By Obinna Uballa
Nigeria’s push for energy self-sufficiency has received a boost as the Federal Government disclosed that 67,657,559 barrels of crude oil were delivered to domestic refineries between January and August 2025.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), which confirmed the figure, said the supplies were made under the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 and the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation (DCSO) policy aimed at guaranteeing feedstock for local processors.
Head of Media and Strategic Communications at NUPRC, Eniola Akinkuotu, said the barrels were allocated to modular and state-owned refining facilities, including Waltersmith, Aradel Energy, and refineries run by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
“A total of 67,657,559 barrels were delivered to local refiners between January and August this year,” he said on Sunday in Abuja.
The allocation represents growing compliance with the DCSO framework, designed to cut Nigeria’s reliance on imported petroleum products. Analysts say it signals renewed hope for the country’s refining revolution, with both state and private refineries expected to ramp up production.
However, challenges remain. Refiners had projected a demand of 123.4 million barrels for the first half of 2025 but received about 45 per cent less, leaving a significant gap between requirement and supply.
Operators have long complained of difficulties accessing crude locally, alleging that upstream producers prefer selling to international buyers who pay in dollars.
The Publicity Secretary of the Crude Oil Refiners Association of Nigeria, Eche Idoko, warned in July that the “willing buyer, willing seller” model continues to disadvantage local processors struggling with exchange rate volatility.
