Nigeria’s long-running debate over fuel importation has resurfaced following strong comments by oil and gas expert Maurice Ibe, who argued that continued importation of petroleum products is unjustified if local refineries are producing enough to meet domestic demand.
DDM gathered that Ibe made the remarks during a recent interview aired by Arise News, where he examined the state of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, regulatory oversight, and the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act.
His comments come amid renewed public scrutiny of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and growing concerns about transparency, policy consistency, and data integrity in the energy sector.
According to Ibe, Nigeria’s persistent reliance on imported fuel reflects regulatory failure rather than technical necessity, especially with the emergence of large-scale domestic refining capacity.
He insisted that decisions on fuel importation must be guided strictly by verified production and consumption data, warning that policy choices based on assumptions or conflicting figures distort the market.
Ibe argued that if facilities such as the Dangote Refinery and other local refineries are producing sufficient volumes for domestic consumption, there is no economic or strategic justification for importing petrol or other refined products.
In his view, unnecessary importation places avoidable pressure on Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves, worsens currency instability, and weakens the broader economy.
He further noted that continued imports create fertile ground for rent-seeking, arbitrage, and manipulation within the downstream sector, while discouraging investors who have committed billions of dollars to refining infrastructure inside the country.
The expert also drew attention to years of conflicting fuel consumption figures released by different government agencies, saying the inconsistencies have eroded trust and made effective planning difficult.
According to him, inaccurate data fuels artificial scarcity, confuses pricing mechanisms, and opens the door to market distortions that hurt consumers.
Ibe stressed that transparent, credible data should form the foundation of all regulatory decisions, including import approvals, pricing frameworks, and distribution planning.
He urged regulators to resist political and commercial pressure, warning that regulatory agencies must not become active participants in the market they are meant to oversee.
Instead, he said their role should be limited to monitoring, evaluation, and strict enforcement of rules as provided under the Petroleum Industry Act.
The oil and gas analyst expressed cautious optimism about new leadership within regulatory agencies but warned that independence and professionalism would be key tests going forward.
He argued that faithful implementation of the PIA, combined with data-driven regulation, could finally deliver energy security, price stability, and predictable fuel supply across Nigeria.
Ibe also cautioned policymakers against prioritising personal, political, or institutional interests over national interest, describing such behaviour as a major reason inefficiencies persist in the downstream sector.
He warned that failure to align policy with reality would prolong Nigeria’s dependence on imports, undermine local refining, and keep the sector trapped in cycles of crisis and reform.
Industry observers say the comments reflect growing frustration among experts and investors who believe Nigeria stands at a turning point in its refining journey.
With domestic refining capacity expanding, analysts argue that the coming months will test whether regulators can match infrastructure progress with disciplined, transparent policy choices.
As debates continue, the central question remains whether Nigeria will fully embrace local refining as the backbone of its fuel supply or continue a costly dependence on imports despite growing domestic capacity.