Nigeria’s upstream regulator says local refiners received only a fraction of the crude allocated to them in the first quarter of 2026, highlighting persistent gaps between supply offers and refinery take-up. The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission said Dangote Refinery and other domestic plants collectively received between 36% and 46% of their allocated volumes during the period.
The commission disclosed the figures on Tuesday in its quarterly Domestic Crude Supply Obligation report, released through its spokesperson, Eniola Akinkuotu. It said the crude delivered to domestic refineries—covering the quarter—totalled 28.5 million barrels, against 61.9 million barrels allocated for local processing in the first three months of 2026.
Quick facts
- Domestic refineries received 36–46% of allocated crude in Q1 2026.
- Crude delivered to local refineries: 28.5 million barrels versus 61.9 million barrels allocated.
- January deliveries: 22.6 million barrels.
- February allocation to refineries: 20.5 million barrels, but producers offered 19.8 million barrels (short by 700,000 barrels).
- March deliveries improved to 10.1 million barrels from 9.2 million in January and 9.1 million in February.
Month-by-month breakdown
Under the commission’s month-by-month account, January saw domestic refineries receive 22.6 million barrels of the crude allocation. In February, the regulator said it discharged the DCSO by allocating 20.5 million barrels to local refineries, but producers supplied slightly less, offering 19.8 million barrels—about 700,000 barrels below the intended level.
For March, the commission reported a modest improvement in deliveries, with volumes rising to 10.1 million barrels. It said this compared with 9.2 million barrels in January and 9.1 million barrels in February, indicating a limited rebound after the February shortfall.
Why deliveries fell short
NUPRC said the gap between crude offered by producers and actual deliveries to domestic refiners has been linked primarily to pricing differences. It pointed to a continuing “willing buyer, willing seller” structure for transactions, noting that the pricing mismatch between producers and domestic refiners remains a key driver of outcomes.
Even with the shortfall, the commission said it remains focused on the government’s broader goal of achieving energy sufficiency. NUPRC reaffirmed its commitment to meeting that objective as it continues to oversee the domestic crude supply framework.
