Nigeria imported about 61.7 million barrels of crude oil from the United States between January 2024 and January 2026, highlighting a growing dependence on foreign feedstock even as the country remains one of Africa’s top crude exporters.

The development presents a striking contrast: while Nigeria continues to ship large volumes of crude abroad, domestic refineries—particularly the Dangote Refinery—are increasingly turning to imports to meet operational needs.

Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows that crude flows from the U.S. to Nigeria surged significantly within the two-year period, reversing nearly a decade of minimal trade between both countries. Before 2024, such imports were almost non-existent, with only a brief occurrence in 2016.

The shift became more pronounced in 2024, coinciding with the start of operations at the Dangote Refinery. Industry analysts say the facility has emerged as a major buyer of U.S. crude, largely due to persistent gaps in domestic supply.

Between January and June 2024 alone, Nigeria imported roughly 15.7 million barrels of U.S. crude.

The pace accelerated in 2025, which accounted for the bulk of the total imports. From February to December 2025, the country brought in about 41.06 million barrels, with peak inflows recorded mid-year.

In June 2025, imports hit their highest level at over 300,000 barrels per day, translating to more than 9 million barrels within the month. However, volumes declined sharply toward the end of the year before picking up again in January 2026.

Overall, total imports from 2024 through January 2026 stood at approximately 61.7 million barrels.

Despite this reliance on imported crude, Nigeria’s export figures remain substantial. According to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria, the country exported about 306.7 million barrels of crude between January and October 2025 alone—representing nearly 70 percent of total production during that period.

A similar trend continued into 2026, with 55.39 million barrels exported in just the first two months of the year.

The imbalance underscores a long-standing structural issue in Nigeria’s oil sector: while the country produces significant volumes of crude, much of it is committed to international buyers, leaving limited supply for local refining.

Industry sources say the Dangote Refinery requires over 19 million barrels of crude monthly to operate at optimal capacity, forcing it to source additional feedstock from the U.S., Ghana, and other suppliers.

Business magnate Aliko Dangote has previously noted that these imports are necessary to bridge the gap between available domestic crude and the refinery’s demand.

The situation marks a shift from Nigeria’s long-standing dependence on imported refined petroleum products to a new model—importing crude for local processing.

However, experts warn that without improved domestic supply allocation, the country may continue to face inefficiencies in its energy value chain.