Why Angolan & Nigerian Oil Struggling To Find Buyers?

Introduction
Charity begins at home, Africa wake up and start selling and buying from each other. Africa must buy Africa. Africa should not import oil from other countries instead trade among themselves.

Nigerian & Angolan Oil Struggling To Find Buyers

Nigeria and Angola are among Africa's biggest oil exporters. Current reports or news being reported on Nigeriàn & Angolan oil is that these two biggest African oil exporters are struggling to find buyers for their oil... but Africa is busy buying oil from the Middle East, disturbing indeed.

"Approximately 20 million barrels of Nigerian oil for December 2025 & January (for upcoming 2026) loading remained unsold by Thursday 18 December 2025.While Angola's December_ January programmes still had as many as five to six cargoes available"

Such a large amount of unsold oil as it is understood,is unusual, especially for the current month (December)

Why no buyers?
A number of reasons are being thrown around to explain why Nigerian and Angolan oil is facing difficulties in finding buyers.

1.Market Supply Surplus
"The amount of unsold Nigeriàn & Angolan crude oil is a symptom of a wider oil market surplus", Analysts point out.

So the argument goes like there is oversupply of oil globally. Meaning oil is now cheap and customers buy from the one who sells at the cheapest price. ..simple economics the argument concludes. So what Nigerià & Angola need is some creative sales ideas and strategies.

"The overhang of West African cargoes partly reflects the broader global crude supply surplus emerging in Q1" , said Victoria Grabenwoger of analytics firm Kpler.

2. Oil Grade
It is said oil from Middle East is displacing medium & heavy West African, Nigeriàn oil grade.This is because African oil is not good enough. The country endowed with dense oil the world is Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Russia...goes the African oil not good enough argument.

3. Lack Of Technology
Apparently Africa doesn't have economic & technology might to use high oil output production. Even when some school of thought says Angolan oil is in high demand but no storage is there. Lack of technology capacity to refine the oil resulting in more focus in exporting crude instead of refined oil.Most buyers want it refined United States of America (US), Brazil buy it refined, China buys it to refined too. It means Angolan oil needs to go to Europe or US before coming back to Africa making it very difficult and expensive to buy.

4. Governance
Concerns or perceptions created over issues like governance, transparency and sustainability alongside issues like oil theft, creates uncertainty in the marketing of "African oil". This in turn adversely impacts in the marketing of "African oil" so goes the argument.

5. Middleman Factor
Middleman are responsible for creating a narrative which is not necessarily true. According to Africanites Media, middleman often promote Middle Eastern oil as superior, creating a false narrative that undermines confidence in African crude oil (Nigeriàn & Angolan)...even when African crude meets standards.

6. Logistical Factors
It is said that major Asian buyers (China & India) favour Middle Eastern oil due to lower prices and shorter shipping time. This reduces their demand for West African (Nigeriàn oil).

Africa, Focus On Intra-Trade
No matter how logical, plausible the reasons why Nigeriàn and Angolan oil is struggling to find buyers...it is also equally true that Africa should seriously focus on increasing trade between and amongst itself. Shocking statistics point out that Intra- trade within Africa itself is 13% _16%(intr-trade) And 84% _87%(external trade) is Africa's trade with other countries of the world... disturbing & concerning indeed. This is why intra-Africa trade is very important. If they seĺl to fellow African nations, the price of fuel in all countries will drop, their economies will grow, more people will be employed, they will buy cars and some will open factories and import more fuel!

What If?
What if all the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries decided to buy Angolan Oil? What if all of Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) decided to buy oil from Nigeria. What if a refinery was completed in Tanzania and supply the whole of East Africa? As for north Africa, we have Lybia and Sudan. What is wrong with Africa actually? Who bewitched us? What if Nigeria and Angola focus on African market and also allow trade in local currencies thereby boosting trade to both their nations and to the entire continent, if done right Africa can now be self sufficient, Angola and Nigeria can become major economies in Africa providing oil.

Take a look
Firstly, sixteen (16) SADC nations spend U$12 billion yearly buying fuel from Middle East. Secondly, the same oil bought from United Arab Emirates (UAE) is available in Angola which has 7 Billion Barrels of oil. And then UAE then uses money we send from Africa to build their lands, cities and major highways into first world infrastructure.Hence, as Africa, we help sponsor the beauty of UAE. Then Africans fly to Dubai to marvel at its skyscrapers and wonder how a desert became so beautiful !!! In fact, its our own disorganization, disintergration, disunity is behind sponsoring the beauty of other nations in this world.

Why Not?
Why is it so difficult for Africa to prioritize trading with each other. Sealing deals within fellow African countries because almost all African nations are buying fuel from Middle East.For example, Zambia imports 360 million of litres of fuel from Saudi Arabia but neighbouring Angola, just next door,offers fuel 25_40% cheaper than the Arabian country. But trade between these two Southern African countries rarely happens...why? The problem is that Africans want to sell their products abroad. Sell your products to your neighbors and the surplus can go abroad. For some unexplainable reasons but bordering on inferiority complex and lack of self respect.

We as Africa and Africans we don't want (or don't know how to do business) with each other and seldom do.We don't want to support each other. We want to buy the oil from the Middle east and Europe. African countries are disorganized.Their doing of business is to impress west and seek approval from the West, that’s our biggest problem.We want to impress Europeans, we want European approval... slave mentality!!, right from the top there (African leadership), right up to the very bottom of Africa' s social ladder. Most African leaders are simply puppets, only a few leaders in Africa are exceptional and practical.

African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

There is need to facilitate full adoption and implementation of continental free trade area in Africa. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a landmark agreement by the African Union to create the world's largest free trade area, uniting *55 African countries* into a single market of 1.5 billion people with an estimated $3.4 trillion GDP, aiming to boost intra-Africa trade, industrialization, and economic integration. AfCTAT agreement was signed in 2018 but official trading begun January 1, 2021. AfCTA is the largest free trade area by population and geographical size. Full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement can transform Africa economically and reduce poverty on the continent. According to estimated, increase GDP of Africa by 10%. However, ACFTA faces challenges like poor infrastructure and nationalism (countries still thinking nationally instead of continentally).

Single African Currency
Africa should push for one single currency like Europe, then trade within the continent and make movement within the region visa free, it will boost Africa economy and reduce dependency on west. Single African currency has many of the following merits: Single currency can boost so much needed Intra-African Trade. This is through removal of by currency-related barriers. A common currency can simplify trade within Africa by eliminating exchange rate uncertainties and reducing transaction costs. This is imperative because according to statistics is 13- 16% among Africans and 84-87% with other parts of the world. A common unit of account would make prices of goods and services more transparent and comparable across different countries, fostering greater competition to the benefit of consumers be free. Single currency eliminates associated transaction costs and exchange rate risks for businesses and individuals engaged in cross-border trade. This makes buying and selling goods easier and faster across borders.Single currency stabilizes prices of goods and services. Single African currency reduces currency risks perceived by foreign investors, thereby attracting more foreign direct investment, which is critical for economic growth and job creation. Single African currency economically intergrates Africa which in turn make Africa have greater influence in international negotiations, trade agreements, and diplomatic relations. Single currency, is a cost-effective way of potentially boosting tourism within the continent. Politically & geopolitically a single currency serves as a powerful symbol of Pan-African unity and shared identity.

Conclusion
It is very very hard to take, Nigeriàn & Angolan oil struggling to find market for their oil, indeed struggling when over 80% of African nations get oil from Middle East. AU should ban oil imports from outside Africa, and all African countries buy oil from within the continent, allow Angola and Nigeria to supply oil the whole Africa. Offcourse, certain interests will argue investments rights just to make sure Africa won't unite for trade.The problem with Africans is that we are not yet to trade with each other....why because of weak currency and unfair trade, too much corruption and undermining each other, thus, Africa thy will die of oil thirst whilst failing to drink its own oil.Its high time for Africa to start drinking its own oil. Africa's selfishness and unwillingness to understand that without economic unity Africa will be forever at the mercy of those foreign interests who control it. What is AU position on such because the foreign interests who pulls the strings won't allow it. Berlin Borders system blame brought borders to Africa to separate us so that there will be no integration, no economic and political unity among Africa and Africans for the purpose of looting Africa natural resources .

F. Madondo (African Teacher) fortmada123@gmail.com

References
Why Nigerian, Angolan Oil Struggling To Find Buyers? Available at www.trtafrika.com

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