In a staggering display of festive-season demand, Nigerians spent an estimated N1.58 trillion on petrol throughout December 2025. This figure is based on the latest consumption data released by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
According to the regulator’s December fact sheet, average daily consumption hit 63.7 million litres. Over the 31 days of December, the nation consumed a total of 1.97 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
Why Petrol Spending Soared
The high consumption levels were primarily driven by the annual Yuletide festivities. Several factors contributed to this record-breaking expenditure:
- Holiday Travel: Increased interstate movements as families traveled for Christmas and New Year.
- Commercial Activity: Higher logistics and delivery demands for end-of-year trade.
- Energy Needs: A surge in the use of petrol-powered generators by businesses and households during the holiday period.
Consequently, the daily average of 63.7 million litres represents the highest consumption rate recorded since October 2024. For comparison, daily consumption in December 2024 stood at just 52.3 million litres.
The N800 Per Litre Benchmark
Although the market is now deregulated, prices remained a significant burden for consumers. While the Dangote Refinery crashed its exit price to N739 per litre in December, many retail stations maintained higher rates.
Market observations show that some stations in Lagos and Ogun sold at lower prices. However, many outlets—particularly in Northern Nigeria—sold petrol for well above N800 per litre. Therefore, N800 serves as a broad national average for calculating the N1.58 trillion total spend.
Supply Dynamics: Imports vs. Local Refining
The NMDPRA data reveals a shifting landscape in how Nigeria sources its fuel. In December, the country relied on a mix of foreign imports and domestic production from the Dangote Refinery.
Specifically, the nation imported approximately 1.31 billion litres during the month, averaging 42.2 million litres per day. At the same time, the Dangote Refinery supplied 992 million litres, which averages out to 32 million litres per day. This brings the total monthly supply to 2.30 billion litres.
Notably, the Dangote Refinery saw a significant jump in output. Its production rose from 19.5 million litres per day in November to 32 million in December. This domestic boost helped stabilize availability during the period of peak demand.
Economic Implications
The N1.58 trillion expenditure underscores the heavy financial weight petrol places on Nigerian households and businesses. Even with improved local refining, fuel costs continue to consume a massive portion of disposable income in the current deregulated market.
Moving forward, stakeholders will be watching to see if increased domestic refining can eventually lead to a more sustained reduction in retail pump prices nationwide.
