A recent investigation has uncovered that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and independent marketers have been importing substandard and off-specification Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, into Nigeria.
Despite repeated assurances from the NNPCL, this “dirty petrol” now constitutes up to a quarter of the nation’s daily fuel consumption.
According to a Motor Tanker Vessels report dated September 13, 2024, fuel imports through various Nigerian ports—including Apapa, Tincan, Lekki, Calabar, Port Harcourt, and Warri—totaled 261,938 metric tonnes. Of this, NNPCL received 134,938 metric tonnes, while independent marketers brought in 127,000 metric tonnes.
The report highlights that these imports, originating from previously flagged sources for delivering off-specification fuel, are contributing to vehicle damage. An industry source noted, “They have brought into the country the same kind of fuel that was condemned as dirty petrol. The ongoing queues and shortages force people to buy this substandard product due to desperation.”
As fuel queues continue nationwide, Nigerians are compelled to purchase this inferior product, despite its adverse effects on vehicles.