Refiners Reject Crude Supply
Domestic refiners in Nigeria failed to lift crude oil valued at about $3.13bn in the first three months of 2026, exposing fresh problems in the country’s oil supply system.
Data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission showed that producers supplied more crude than local refineries could take.
Between January and March, oil firms offered 68.7 million barrels of crude, while local refineries lifted only 28.5 million barrels.
The shortfall stood at over 40 million barrels, despite government efforts to boost local refining and reduce fuel imports.
Industry players linked the problem to pricing disputes, unsuitable crude grades and commercial disagreements between producers and refiners.
January recorded the biggest gap, with refiners leaving behind crude worth more than $1bn after taking less than half of the volumes offered.
The situation has also pushed the Dangote Refinery towards imported crude from the United States.
Refiners said foreign crude grades and pricing structures are more suitable for operations, while local crude remains expensive under the current market framework.
