Nigeria has effectively transitioned from chronic petrol shortages to a phase of sustained fuel surplus, following large-scale domestic production by Dangote Petroleum Refinery Plc.

The assurance was given by the newly appointed Managing Director of the refinery, David Bird, during a media briefing in Lagos on Wednesday, where he said consistent local refining has ended the era of scarcity associated with Premium Motor Spirit PMS.

According to Bird, the refinery maintained an uninterrupted supply during the last Christmas and New Year holidays, a period traditionally marked by fuel queues, describing the feat as a major operational milestone for the country’s downstream sector.

Beyond volume, Bird said Nigeria is now consuming world-class fuels refined to Euro 5 standards, noting that the facility exports gasoline to Europe and aviation fuel to markets including Dubai.

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He added that this development has halted the long-standing practice of dumping substandard fuels in West Africa, delivering major public health benefits through cleaner and lower sulphur products.

“We are moving about 1,000 trucks daily and producing up to 50 million litres of fuel every day,” Bird said, adding that price stability and improved supply have helped calm market volatility and supported the naira.

He disclosed that despite ramping up several units only in the second half of 2025, the refinery consistently supplied more than 50 million litres of finished products daily, sometimes exceeding 52 million litres, due to its flexible merchant refining and blending design.

Bird also revealed that daily output now matches production at over 50 million litres, with excess volumes available for export when domestic demand is met. About 4,000 trucks are currently operating on site, while a computerised security and loading system is being finalised to ensure accurate product delivery.

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On pricing, the refinery’s Managing Director dismissed claims that the N739 per litre petrol price was anti-competitive, insisting that consumers retain freedom of choice and that pricing reflects market realities.

He said the refinery’s expansion strategy includes heavy investment in petrochemicals, with polypropylene capacity set to rise from the current 800,000 tonnes to 1.2 million tonnes through a new PDH unit, before reaching 2.4 million tonnes in the final phase.

The expansion, he said, would deepen local manufacturing, create a broad industrial ecosystem and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imports.

Bird explained that between 30 and 40 per cent of the refinery’s crude supply currently comes through the crude for naira arrangement, adding that the programme has played a key role in stabilising the foreign exchange market and could be scaled up in the national interest.

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He further noted that domestic refining has insulated Nigeria from global oil price shocks, stressing that reliance on imports had previously exposed the economy to international volatility.

“This is not just a refinery, it is a continental industrial project designed to deliver price stability, quality and long-term economic resilience,” Bird said, adding that steel structures for further expansion are expected to begin rising before the end of 2026.

Also speaking, Head of Communications for the Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina, said disruptions in global oil markets, including the ongoing crisis in Venezuela, underscore the importance of local refining capacity for producing countries like Nigeria.

According to him, sustained domestic production has placed Nigeria on firmer footing, ensuring steady supply, cleaner fuels and a more stable downstream petroleum market.