The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, has resumed the issuance of petrol import licences to petroleum marketers in a fresh policy shift.

The regulator approved licences for six major marketers expected to import about 720,000 metric tons of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol.

The beneficiaries include NIPCO, AA Rano, Matrix Energy Group, Shafa Energy, Pinnacle Oil and Gas, and Bono Energy.

According to the approvals, NIPCO, Shafa, and Pinnacle are each expected to import 120,000 metric tons, while AA Rano and Matrix will import 150,000 metric tons each. Bono Energy received approval for 60,000 metric tons.

The development comes despite repeated assurances by Dangote Refinery that it has the capacity to meet Nigeria’s domestic fuel demand.

Recent industrial data released by the NMDPRA reportedly showed that the 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery currently supplies about 90 percent of the country’s daily petrol consumption.