DANGOTE REFINERY TAKES NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT TO COURT OVER NEW PETROL IMPORT LICENCES
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By:Tajudeen Aminat
Dangote Refinery has taken legal action against the Federal Government over the issuance of fresh petrol import licences to marketers and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
According to Reuters, in a filing submitted on Friday, the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to invalidate import permits issued or renewed by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The move follows growing controversy over the approval of new import licences for several petroleum marketers despite claims that domestic refining capacity is sufficient to meet national demand.
Data released by the NMDPRA reportedly showed that in April 2026, Dangote Refinery accounted for about 79 percent of Nigeria’s petrol supply.
However, despite industry concerns, the regulator proceeded with issuing additional import licences, a decision that has drawn criticism from stakeholders.
In its fresh suit, Dangote Refinery accused the government of policy inconsistency, arguing that the approvals contradict its “Nigeria-first” refining policy and undermine local production.
The company is seeking to nullify the licences issued to the NNPCL and other oil traders, insisting that imports should only be allowed when local supply is inadequate, as provided by law.
The refinery also noted that the licences issued in May are harmful to its operations and threaten gains made in domestic refining.
It will be recalled that Dangote Refinery had previously withdrawn a similar lawsuit against fuel importers in 2025 following government intervention.
Meanwhile, petrol importers currently sell fuel at between N1,285 and N1,295 per litre, while Dangote Refinery reportedly offers its product at around N1,200 per litre.
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