The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has criticised the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for approving the importation of 830,000 tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in the fourth quarter of 2026.
MURIC described the approval as unnecessary, wasteful and counterproductive, arguing that greater priority should be given to Nigeria’s domestic refineries. 
The organisation made its position known in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Prof. Isiaq Akintola, and made available to journalists on Thursday.
NMDPRA recently approved the importation of 830,000 tonnes of PMS for the fourth quarter of 2026. However, MURIC said the decision was difficult to justify amid increased domestic refining capacity, particularly with the operations of the Dangote Refinery.
Akintola urged the petroleum industry regulator and other relevant government agencies to work closely with local refineries and reduce the country’s reliance on imported refined petroleum products.
According to him, continued importation could undermine investments in Nigeria’s refining sector and frustrate efforts to achieve greater domestic fuel production.
“We expect NMDPRA and all other government agencies in the petroleum industry to cooperate with our local refineries. The importation of refined fuel should stop forthwith,” he said.
The group argued that Nigeria should prioritise locally refined petroleum products as part of efforts to strengthen the domestic economy and maximise investments in the country’s refining infrastructure.
“The Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, has approved 830,000 tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, imports for the fourth quarter of 2026 despite ample evidence of petrol self-sufficiency in the country with the presence of local production efficacy courtesy of Dangote Refinery.
“MURIC considers this move as unnecessary, wasteful, counterproductive, regressive and unpatriotic. We therefore condemn it in the strongest terms,” the statement added.
