By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
Petroleum products accounted for 95 per cent of Nigeria’s total imports from Togo in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2025.
This is according to foreign trade statistics published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which shows that Nigeria imported petrol worth a total of N3.54 trillion in Q4 2025.
The data shows that total imports from Togo stood at N88.91 billion in Q4 2025, while petroleum products imported from the West African country during the quarter were valued at N84.69 billion.
The import statistics point to Nigeria’s continued dependence on imported fuel to meet domestic demand despite ongoing efforts to expand local refining capacity.
According to the NBS’ foreign trade data, Togo is Nigeria’s largest African source of petrol imports in Q4 2025.
Other non-petroleum products imported from the country, which accounted for 24 per cent of the total value of imports from Togo, included hides and skins, crude soybean oil and postage-related materials.
The data further shows that Nigeria imported petrol from several countries during the period, including Brazil and the Netherlands.
The country’s imports from Brazil were valued at N221.15 billion, while the value of imports from the Netherlands stood at N1.22 trillion, emerging as one of Nigeria’s largest petrol suppliers.
The data further reveals Nigeria’s continued reliance on petroleum importation despite being Africa’s largest crude oil producer due to operational challenges at its state-owned refineries.
The large volumes of petroleum and other products’ importation also contribute to foreign exchange flight and continue to weigh on Nigeria’s trade balance.
Analysts believe Nigeria’s domestic fuel supply could see improvements as local refining capacity increases.
As of January 2026, the privately-owned Dangote Petroleum Refinery announced that it supplied an average of 40.1 million litres of petrol per day into the domestic market and aims to increase its refining capacity to 700,000 barrels daily.
The refinery has already signed an offtake agreement with 12 major and independent oil marketers, which is expected to support the distribution of between 60 million and 65 million litres of petrol daily across the country.
