The Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure the steady supply of crude oil to domestic refineries as part of urgent steps to curb the rising cost of petrol in Nigeria.
The association specifically urged the federal government to prioritise crude supply to the Dangote Refinery, noting that stronger support for local refining would help shield the country from the impact of global oil market disruptions linked to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
NAJA made the appeal amid growing concerns over the volatility in the global energy market and its effect on Nigeria’s fuel prices, which have been under pressure following escalating geopolitical tensions in the region.
The call also comes shortly after the federal government announced plans to distribute 100,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion kits nationwide as part of efforts to cushion the effect of high petrol prices on motorists and commuters.
While describing the CNG initiative as a commendable step, NAJA maintained that strengthening local refining capacity through guaranteed crude supply remains a more sustainable solution to Nigeria’s fuel pricing challenges.
Speaking on behalf of the association, NAJA Chairman, Theodore Opara, urged the government to implement policies that would allow domestic refineries to access crude oil directly from Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and transact in naira.
According to Opara, the current situation where the Dangote Refinery imports a significant portion of its crude exposes the facility to fluctuations in the international oil market.
He explained that direct crude supply from NNPC would strengthen Nigeria’s energy diversification strategy and reduce the country’s vulnerability to global supply shocks.
Opara further noted that despite being Africa’s largest crude oil producer, Nigeria still relies heavily on imported refined petroleum products, a situation that continues to expose the economy to external price volatility.
He added that allowing major domestic refineries, including the Dangote Refinery, to access crude locally and conduct transactions in naira would help reduce the country’s exposure to international market disruptions while stabilising the downstream petroleum sector.
While acknowledging the benefits of the CNG programme as a transitional solution for transportation, Opara stressed that efficient domestic refining must remain the backbone of Nigeria’s fuel supply system.
Industry observers also noted that direct crude allocation to local refineries could help ease pressure on the naira and stabilise the domestic fuel market, particularly during periods of global supply disruptions.
NAJA emphasised that combining the government’s CNG initiative with strong support for domestic refining would create a balanced strategy capable of protecting Nigerian motorists from the impact of global oil market volatility.