A rights advocacy group, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has condemned the rationing of crude oil to local refineries, describing the policy as “ridiculous” and detrimental to efforts aimed at reducing fuel prices in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, and signed by its Executive Director, Ishaq Akintola, the group expressed concern over the soaring cost of petrol, which it said has risen to as high as N1,400 per litre amid the ongoing Middle East crisis. MURIC questioned why Nigeria, an oil-producing nation with functioning refineries, continues to grapple with high fuel costs despite global developments.
The group said its findings revealed a “paradoxical and baffling” situation in which local refineries are being under-supplied with crude oil. It cited the case of the Dangote Refinery, which reportedly requires about 19.77 million barrels of crude monthly but has been receiving significantly lower volumes over recent months, affecting its optimal operations.
MURIC argued that the rationing system is unjustifiable, particularly given Nigeria’s estimated 37.28 billion barrels of crude reserves and its status as Africa’s largest oil producer. The group warned that inadequate supply to local refineries could undermine their capacity to meet domestic fuel demand and potentially force them to seek international markets.
The statement further alleged that local refiners, including Dangote Refinery, are compelled to purchase Nigerian crude through foreign intermediaries at higher costs, a development it described as counterproductive. It warned that such a trend could lead to increased exports of refined products at the expense of local consumption.
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Calling for urgent intervention, MURIC urged Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to ensure adequate crude supply to domestic refineries. The group maintained that decisive action would help stabilise fuel prices and prevent a return to heavy reliance on fuel importation.
MURIC concluded that Nigeria must prioritise its domestic refining capacity to shield citizens from the adverse effects of global oil market disruptions and to maximise the benefits of its natural resources.
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