₦airaland Forum

Court documents seen by Reuters showed that the refinery instituted the suit against Nigeria’s Attorney General, seeking to overturn import permits issued by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

Fresh tensions are emerging in Nigeria’s downstream oil sector as Dangote Petroleum Refinery moves to halt the continued importation of petrol into the country through a new lawsuit challenging fuel import licences granted to oil marketers and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

Court documents seen by Reuters showed that the refinery instituted the suit against Nigeria’s Attorney General, seeking to overturn import permits issued by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

The legal dispute comes almost a year after Dangote Refinery withdrew an earlier case that similarly challenged the issuance of fuel import licences to the NNPCL and several fuel trading firms.

In the fresh filing before the Federal High Court in Lagos, the refinery asked the court to nullify import permits recently issued or renewed by the NMDPRA, arguing that the approvals violated an existing court order directing parties to maintain the status quo pending determination of the matter.

The NMDPRA had yet to respond to requests for comments as of the time of filing this report.

Fuel marketers and regulators have repeatedly defended the continued issuance of import licences, insisting that petrol imports remain necessary to guarantee adequate supply across the country and prevent shortages in the domestic market.

Dangote Refinery, however, maintained in its court filing that the licences issued this month “undermine its operations” and violate provisions of the law which, according to the company, only permit the importation of petroleum products when local production is unable to meet national demand.

The refinery had in July 2025 discontinued a previous lawsuit challenging similar licences without publicly stating the reason for the withdrawal, leaving unresolved questions over market competition and the future structure of Nigeria’s fuel supply chain.

Nigeria has historically depended on imported petrol due to the long-standing poor performance of state-owned refineries. The Dangote Refinery, valued at about $20 billion and designed to process 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day, was expected to significantly reduce or eliminate the country’s dependence on imported refined products.

Despite the commencement of operations at the facility, fuel importation has persisted, with industry players arguing that imported products are still required to bridge supply gaps as the refinery continues to expand output.

The latest court action is likely to intensify conversations around fuel market regulation, local refining capacity and the broader implementation of Nigeria’s petroleum laws, especially amid growing expectations that domestic refineries should gradually take over the country’s fuel supply needs.


Overttime, there has been tension in the Nigerian oil sector.

SaharaReporters earlier reported that Dangote Petroleum Refinery accused Nigerian upstream oil producers of failing to supply crude oil to the facility as required under the country’s petroleum law, forcing the refinery to rely heavily on international traders who charge additional premiums.

In a statement issued by its management, the refinery said the situation has significantly increased operational costs, even as it struggles to maintain stable fuel supply in Nigeria amid global energy market volatility.

"The high crude cost is compounded by the fact that Nigeria upstream producers have failed to supply crude oil to the refinery as required under the PIA, forcing us to source a substantial portion through international traders who charge an additional premium,” the company said.

The refinery explained that the situation has made crude procurement more expensive, particularly because Nigerian crude oil itself trades at a premium above global benchmark prices.

DomPerignon:
As much as importation of refined fuel is ret@rded , Dangote should know that these importers have a right to do business which they have been doing long before Dangote refinery came into existence.

The AGF can also be sued by these same importers if he withdraws their permits as the importers were incorporated under law as fuel importers.

The FG simply has to implement tariff regime on importers to force them to diverge into refining here in Nigeria.

Also the AGF may be granting these renewals on permits to importers to prevent Dangote becoming a monopoly in the energy sector as this also contravenes existing laws.

Freshtruth:
Dangonte influence the fuel subsidy remover decision with the remover he will make his money he use in building the refinery in less than 2years. This man does not care about the sufferings of Nigerians he only care about how he can break into top 10 richest lists

Freshtruth:
Dangonte influence the fuel subsidy remover decision with the remover he will make his money he use in building the refinery in less than 2years. This man does not care about the sufferings of Nigerians he only care about how he can break into top 10 richest lists

Freshtruth:
Dangonte influence the fuel subsidy remover decision with the remover he will make his money he use in building the refinery in less than 2years. This man does not care about the sufferings of Nigerians he only care about how he can break into top 10 richest lists

GEJDHERO:
So its importation the solution??

muykem:
Dangote should use price to cripple importers rather than the court.

SonOfWords:
But why in the name of a dozen demons are we still importing petrol into a country where a local refinery is optimally producing petrol for consumption, even to the point where the country has historically began to export same refined petrol to other African countries, including South Africa☠️🪓😐?!

Is it a crime if we're self-sufficient in at least one phacet of our entire miserable national existence?

What manner of demonic leadership is this, ni tori olohun?!

muykem:
Dangote should use price to cripple importers rather than court.

flokii:
Critical thinkers can see those behind the sabotage of our State-owned refineries for their selfish gain.. this Dangote man can't try the shi.t he is doing in Nigeria in a country like China where the institutions of Government there are up and doing.
Saboteurs disguising themselves as saviours to milk Nigerians dry.

ogascomax:
Let me see whether dumy will support Dangote again.

BlocksNG:
Federal government cannot build or maintain 12th century refinery, dangote single handedly built it, shame on Nigerians supporting failure.

SonOfWords:
Are you high? Because I don't want to believe you wrote this with a clear head.

SonOfWords:
But why in the name of a dozen demons are we still importing petrol into a country where a local refinery is optimally producing petrol for consumption, even to the point where the country has historically began to export same refined petrol to other African countries, including South Africa☠️🪓😐?!

Is it a crime if we're self-sufficient in at least one phacet of our entire miserable national existence?

What manner of demonic leadership is this, ni tori olohun?!