Nigerians furious as Dangote exports petrol while Nigeria imports

DDM News

(DDM) – The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has officially commenced the export of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, to countries outside Africa.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that this development has triggered widespread confusion and anger among Nigerians, many of whom are questioning why Nigeria continues to import fuel while its largest private refinery exports to international markets.

In June and July 2025 alone, the $20 billion Dangote Refinery exported over one million tonnes of petrol to foreign destinations.

This includes a landmark shipment to Asia in June, as well as earlier consignments of low-sulfur fuel oil sent to Singapore.

In addition, the refinery has exported multiple batches of aviation-grade jet fuel to various countries across the globe.

Despite this significant stride in international petroleum trade, many Nigerians are baffled by the contradiction between local scarcity and foreign supply.

The burning question across social media has been: “How can Dangote be producing and exporting petrol, yet the Nigerian government continues to import the same product?”

Videos, memes, and commentaries have flooded Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram, calling on both Dangote Group and the Nigerian government to clarify the situation.

Critics argue that Nigeria’s continued reliance on imported fuel undermines the original promise of the Dangote Refinery, which was projected to make Nigeria self-sufficient in petroleum products.

Some Nigerians have interpreted the export move as a betrayal of public trust, particularly at a time when domestic petrol prices are rising due to fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate volatility.

Many are demanding to know whether local consumption is being prioritized or sidelined in favour of foreign exchange earnings.

The Dangote Refinery, located in the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Lagos, is Africa’s largest oil refining complex, with the capacity to process 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

It was commissioned in May 2023 with the aim of ending Nigeria’s decades-long dependence on imported refined products.

However, nearly two years after its commissioning, Nigerians still queue at filling stations, and the country continues to import petrol from countries like Belgium, the Netherlands, and India.

Experts argue that exporting petrol may be a short-term business strategy to recoup capital or to meet foreign contracts signed ahead of domestic supply readiness.

Yet others say it reflects deeper regulatory and infrastructural issues within Nigeria’s downstream sector.

As tensions rise, civil society groups and labour unions are now calling for greater transparency in the operations of both the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and Dangote Industries.

Nigerians are demanding answers, not just about fuel exports, but about who is benefitting, and why the common man still pays the price.

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