MURIC slams NMDPRA's 830,000-tonne petrol import approval as wasteful despite local refinery capacity
MURIC has condemned the NMDPRA's approval of 830,000 tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit imports for the fourth quarter of 2026, calling the decision wasteful, counterproductive, regressive and unpatriotic. The Muslim Rights Concern's Executive Director, Professor Isiaq Akintola, made the declaration in a statement released to DAILY POST on Thursday, September 24, 2026.
The organisation argues that despite ample evidence of petrol self-sufficiency in Nigeria—citing local production efficacy from the Dangote Refinery—the import approval undermines domestic refining capacity. MURIC insists NMDPRA and other petroleum agencies should cooperate with local refineries to halt PMS imports and prioritize homegrown production to move the economy forward.
This debate raises critical questions for Nigerians: Will continued importation render local refineries permanently uncompetitive, or does the country genuinely lack sufficient refining capacity to meet demand? How might this policy affect fuel prices, job creation in the downstream sector, and national energy security goals?