Nigeria's Crude Supply Drops Amid Sabotage Allegations

In May 2026, Nigeria's domestic crude supply decreased to 15.84 million barrels, a decline from 17.96 million barrels in April, according to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). This drop has raised concerns in the industry, particularly amid allegations of sabotage affecting the crude supply chain.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has accused the federal government of undermining its operations and frustrating investments in Nigeria's downstream petroleum sector. The allegations include claims that the government has failed to ensure adequate crude supply to local refineries, which has led to a significant shortfall in crude allocations.

Currently, Dangote's allocation from the NNPC is reportedly just five cargoes per month, less than half of the 13 cargoes required for full operation. Despite the decline in domestic crude supply, Nigerian refineries have shown resilience, with domestic crude accounting for approximately 88.4% of total receipts in May.