Recent data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) reveals that Nigeria's modular refineries, specifically WalterSmith, Edo Refinery, and Aradel, supplied a mere 2.37% of the country's diesel requirements over a three-month period from November 2025 to January 2026. With only these three facilities operational, the combined output was approximately 393,000 litres per day, highlighting a significant underperformance in addressing national diesel demands.

The report showed an average national diesel consumption of around 17.0 million litres per day, considerably surpassing the output from modular refineries. In November 2025, diesel consumption reached about 15.4 million litres per day, illustrating the growing gap between supply and demand. The under-utilization of modular refineries further exacerbates the ongoing energy crisis in Nigeria, as these facilities were expected to play a critical role in boosting local fuel supply.

With the shutdown of other facilities such as OPAC and Duport, the report raises concerns regarding the operational capabilities and investment in the modular refining sector. This situation not only calls into question the effectiveness of Nigeria's strategy to enhance domestic refining capacity but also raises implications for energy policy and the country's overall fuel security.