Precious Anga
Lagos — The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has filed a fresh lawsuit against the Federal Government of Nigeria, challenging the issuance of fuel import licences to oil marketers and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC.
Court filings seen by Reuters show that the refinery is asking the Federal High Court in Lagos to nullify import permits granted or renewed by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), arguing that the approvals violate regulatory provisions and a prior court directive meant to preserve the status quo.
At the centre of the dispute is the role of fuel imports in Nigeria’s downstream market at a time when the Dangote refinery is ramping up production. The refinery insists that import licences should only be issued when local supply is insufficient, a condition it says is not being properly enforced.
The NMDPRA has not publicly responded to the latest legal action.
This new case signals a return to a familiar legal battle. Dangote had previously withdrawn a similar suit in 2025 that also sought to block import permits issued to the NNPC and fuel traders, leaving key questions unresolved about competition in Nigeria’s petroleum supply chain.
Regulators and fuel marketers have consistently defended imports, arguing that they remain necessary to stabilise supply and prevent shortages, especially during periods when domestic refining output is still scaling up.
Nigeria has historically depended heavily on imported petrol due to weak domestic refining capacity. That pattern is now being tested by the gradual ramp-up of the $20 billion Dangote refinery, which is designed to refine up to 650,000 barrels per day but is still operating within an evolving supply system where imports remain part of the mix.
The renewed court action adds fresh tension to an already sensitive policy space, where government regulators are attempting to balance energy security, market competition, and the transition toward local refining dominance.
