The Nigerian government has come under heavy criticism by energy stakeholders after the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority recently issued fresh petrol import licenses.

In a statement by energy expert Salako Kareem, he described the regulators’ decision to grant petrol import licenses as a front to undermine domestic refineries.

NMDRA had issued petrol import licenses to boost the in-country energy sufficiency amid the global supply disruption forced on economies around the world due to the Iran-United States-Israel war.

Accordingly, the regulator approved petrol import licenses to six marketers to import about 180,000 metric tons of petrol in a bid to stabilize supply.

However, Kareem said the decision would make Nigeria a dumping ground for low-quality petrol.

According to him, the decision portends deeper inconsistencies in regulatory direction and raises concerns about quality control in Nigeria’s downstream sector.

“Short-term fixes that rely on imports may offer temporary relief, but they do not address the structural weaknesses in Nigeria’s petroleum supply chain. What is required is a disciplined commitment to strengthening local production, enhancing regulatory oversight, and ensuring that every liter of fuel consumed in this country meets strict quality benchmarks,” Kareem said.

UGAMATV reports that the Federal Government had suspended import licenses to marketers to focus on boosting local petroleum production capacity for domestic refineries.