Reopen Refineries Before Yuletide, PETROAN Tells NNPC to Prevent Fuel Crisis

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has called on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) to expedite the reopening of the nation’s refineries before December to prevent possible fuel scarcity and price hikes during the festive season.

The association made the appeal while commending President Bola Tinubu for approving a 15 per cent import duty on petrol and diesel, describing the policy as a potentially transformative step that could encourage local refining and market stability if well managed.

PETROAN’s National President, Dr. Billy Harry, made the appeal in Port Harcourt during a courtesy visit to the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Dr. Chinyere Igwe.

Harry hailed the policy as a bold and strategic measure to protect domestic refiners, strengthen the downstream oil sector, and enhance national energy security. However, he warned that poor implementation could disrupt fuel imports, create job losses, and trigger scarcity.

> “NNPC must complete its partnership agreements and ensure that Nigeria’s refineries resume production before December to avert any form of fuel scarcity or price increase during the Yuletide season,” Harry said.



He cautioned that without proper regulation, the new import duty could stifle competition and allow monopolies to dominate the market. “Importers, who have served as a price-check mechanism, risk being driven out of business if the policy is not well managed,” he added, urging the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to monitor the sector closely.

The PETROAN president also advised fuel importers to patronise local refineries, while urging the NNPC to ensure a steady crude oil supply to domestic refiners to sustain production. He revealed that PETROAN plans to partner with the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education to train students in petroleum marketing and energy management through industrial placements and field excursions.

Meanwhile, the Presidency confirmed on Friday that the 15 per cent import duty on petrol and diesel was part of efforts to revive local refining and strengthen energy independence.

In a statement issued on X (formerly Twitter), Presidential Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, described the new policy as “a bridge, not a burden,” noting that it would help end Nigeria’s long dependence on imported fuel and encourage investment in the local refining sector.

Dare explained that by making imported products less competitive, the policy would favour domestic refineries such as Dangote Refinery, Port Harcourt Refinery, and other modular plants, ultimately stabilising prices and boosting job creation.

He stated, “This policy is designed to move Nigeria from dependence to independence, from vulnerability to strength. As local refining increases, supply will stabilise, prices will moderate, and industrial activity will expand.”

However, petroleum marketers have warned that the new duty could push petrol prices above ₦1,000 per litre if refineries fail to meet local demand. Data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) shows that imports still account for about 69 per cent of Nigeria’s total petrol consumption between August 2024 and October 2025.

The new import duty regime takes effect after a 30-day transition period, ending November 21, 2025, as part of the government’s strategy to protect local refineries and reduce dependence on imported fuel.