Fresh tensions have emerged in Nigeria’s downstream oil sector as the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has filed a new lawsuit challenging the continued issuance of fuel import licences to marketers and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
The licences were issued to NIPCO, AA Rano, Matrix, Shafa, Pinnacle and Bono, authorising a combined import volume of 720,000 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol). Breakdown of the approvals shows AA Rano and Matrix were allocated 150,000 metric tonnes each, while NIPCO, Shafa and Pinnacle received 120,000 metric tonnes apiece. Bono was allocated 60,000 metric tonnes, bringing the total to 720,000 metric tonnes.
Court documents seen by Reuters showed that the refinery is asking the Federal High Court in Lagos to nullify import permits recently issued or renewed by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), arguing that the approvals violate an earlier court order directing parties to maintain the status quo.
The latest legal action marks a renewed face-off between Dangote Refinery and regulators nearly one year after the company quietly withdrew a similar suit filed in 2025. That earlier case had challenged fuel import licences granted to NNPCL and several fuel traders.
In the fresh filing, Dangote Refinery argued that the continued approval of import licences undermines its operations and runs contrary to Nigerian law, which it said only permits fuel imports when local production cannot meet domestic demand.
Industry players and regulators, however, have consistently defended fuel imports, insisting they remain necessary to guarantee adequate supply across the country and prevent shortages as local refining capacity gradually improves.
Nigeria has depended heavily on imported petrol for decades due to the poor performance of state-owned refineries. The 650,000 barrels-per-day Dangote Refinery, valued at about $20 billion, was expected to significantly reduce that dependence after commencing operations.
Despite the refinery ramping up production over the past year, fuel imports have continued, with marketers maintaining that supply gaps still exist in parts of the country. The development has continued to fuel debate within the downstream sector over market competition, pricing control and supply security.
The lawsuit is expected to reopen discussions around Nigeria’s fuel import policy and the balance regulators must strike between protecting local refining investments and ensuring nationwide fuel availability. Reuters reported that the NMDPRA had not responded to requests for comment as of the time of filing the report.