A Dangote crude oil tank is seen inside the Dangote Industries oil refinery and fertilizer plant site in the Ibeju Lekki district of Lagos, Nigeria March 2, 2026. REUTERS/Sodiq Adelakun/File Photo
LAGOS (Reuters) – Nigerian crude oil producers supplied local refineries with less than half of the volumes allocated under the country’s domestic crude supply rules in the first quarter of 2026, regulator data showed, as pricing disputes continued to hamper deliveries.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission said 61.9 million barrels of crude were allocated to domestic refineries during the quarter under the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation, while producers offered 68.7 million barrels.
Actual supply, however, stood at 28.5 million barrels, equivalent to about 46% of allocated volumes and around 41% of volumes offered.
The figures highlight continuing challenges in Nigeria’s push to increase local refining and reduce reliance on imported fuels, despite reforms under the Petroleum Industry Act aimed at improving domestic crude availability.
The shortfall has underscored concerns raised by the Dangote refinery over unreliable domestic crude supply and pricing disagreements, analysts said, constraining output at Africa’s largest refinery and weakening Nigeria’s push to capture more value from its oil production.
The regulator attributed the gap between offered volumes and actual deliveries mainly to pricing differences between crude producers and domestic refiners. It said transactions continue to operate on a “willing buyer, willing seller” basis.