Nigeria adapts to end of fuel subsidies
The withdrawal of discounts has already severely impacted domestic product demand and bolstered long-stalled refinery refurbishment projects
Nigeria relies heavily on imports for most of its refined fuels due to the prolonged neglect that led to the closure of local refineries. Until the removal of subsidies this year, the cost of providing discounted fuels was enormous. NNPC expended a staggering NGN4.39t ($5.3b) on petroleum subsidies in 2022, equating to an expenditure of more than NGN365b per month. At the same time, although the country’s oil production is gradually rebounding, it continues to be hindered by crude theft and pipeline vandalism. Statistics indicate that 48.6% of Nigerians relied on generators as of December 2021, although this figure decreased to 40% in 2022, representing approximately 60m people, according to

Also in this section
25 March 2025
Cote d’Ivoire’s ambitions to become a major regional producer have gained renewed momentum, with established players and new entrants striking upstream deals and committing to long-term investment
24 March 2025
Indian E&P company wants to take domestic production to a new horizon, given the amount of unexplored opportunities
21 March 2025
Two recent developments raise the prospect of a revival in northern Iraqi oil and gas fortunes, but familiar obstacles could thwart momentum
20 March 2025
As cash-strapped Western governments commit to substantially raising defence expenditure, a similar dynamic is playing out in Saudi Arabia’s oil and gas sector, as Saudi Aramco maintains it heavy capex push despite reduced revenues