The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has officially halted its N24 trillion fuel imports, now sourcing all its fuel needs directly from domestic refineries, including the Dangote Refinery. Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, confirmed this shift during the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists’ conference in Lagos, which focused on “Addressing the Nigerian Energy Trilemma: Energy Security, Sustainable Growth, and Affordability.”

Kyari clarified that the NNPC was no longer importing any petroleum products but instead was relying exclusively on local refineries. “Today, NNPC does not import any product; we are taking only from domestic refineries,” he stated, reaffirming the company’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s refining industry.

Addressing concerns over the NNPC’s relationship with the Dangote refinery, Kyari firmly denied rumors that the corporation was undermining the refinery’s operations. He explained that NNPC was a proud part-owner of Dangote’s refinery and highlighted the strategic decision to supply crude oil to domestic refineries. “There is a clear market for at least 300,000 barrels of our production,” Kyari explained, noting that this move was a proactive response to the changing global oil market.

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Kyari also emphasized the importance of processing Nigeria’s crude oil locally to add value. While acknowledging the high quality of Nigerian crude, he pointed out that domestic refineries like Dangote’s were well-equipped to handle it. “Nigerian crude is ‘Lamborghini crude,'” Kyari remarked, stressing the need to process crude locally for better value retention rather than relying on international markets that blend Nigerian crude with lower-quality oils.

The shift to domestic refining is part of NNPC’s broader strategy to ensure energy security, reduce fuel imports, and support local industries. Kyari assured that substantial work was already underway to manage potential challenges around pricing and supply, signaling a strong move toward self-sufficiency in fuel production for Nigeria.