Fresh legal tensions are brewing in Nigeria’s downstream oil sector as Dangote Petroleum Refinery moves once again to challenge the continued issuance of fuel import licences to marketers and the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).
Court documents seen revealed that the refinery has filed a new suit against the Attorney General of the Federation at the Federal High Court in Lagos, seeking to overturn import permits granted by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The latest action marks a renewed chapter in the long-running dispute between the refinery, regulators, and fuel importers over who should dominate Nigeria’s petrol supply chain.
According to the filing, Dangote Refinery argued that the licences recently issued or renewed by the NMDPRA violate an earlier court directive ordering parties to maintain the status quo pending determination of the matter.
The company maintains that Nigeria’s petroleum laws only permit fuel importation when local production is insufficient to meet domestic demand. Dangote claimed the continued approval of import licences undermines its operations and weakens the economic logic behind establishing the multi-billion-dollar refinery.
“Licences issued this month undermine its operations and contravene the law,” the filing stated, insisting that imports should only serve as a temporary measure where supply gaps exist.
The NMDPRA had not responded to requests for comment at the time of reporting. However, regulators and petroleum marketers have repeatedly defended fuel imports, arguing they remain necessary to guarantee adequate nationwide supply and avoid shortages while local refining capacity stabilises.
The development comes nearly a year after Dangote quietly withdrew a similar lawsuit filed against the NNPC and several fuel traders. That earlier suit sought the cancellation of import licences granted to petroleum marketers, but it was discontinued in July 2025 without any public explanation, leaving unresolved concerns over market competition and supply control in Africa’s largest oil-producing nation.
Nigeria has depended heavily on imported petrol for decades due to the poor performance of state-owned refineries. The launch of the $20 billion Dangote Refinery — with a refining capacity of 650,000 barrels per day — was widely projected as a turning point that would end the country’s dependence on imported fuel.
Despite that expectation, imports have continued as marketers insist local output has not fully met national demand. Industry analysts say the dispute reflects deeper concerns over pricing, market dominance, and the future structure of Nigeria’s deregulated downstream petroleum sector.
The case is expected to draw significant attention from investors, regulators, fuel marketers, and consumers alike, especially at a time when Nigeria is battling inflation, foreign exchange pressure, and rising energy costs.