Dangote Refinery Drops Legal Challenge Against NNPC, Oil Marketers
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has withdrawn its lawsuit seeking to nullify petroleum import licences issued to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and other oil marketers.
The suit, filed in September 2024 at the Federal High Court in Abuja, sought to stop the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) from granting import permits, arguing that such licences violated provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and undermined local refining.
Marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1324/2024, the case listed NMDPRA, NNPCL and five major oil marketing companies as defendants, with Dangote demanding ₦100bn in damages.
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The defendants opposed the suit, warning it could create a monopoly and endanger national energy security. NMDPRA maintained that import licences were essential to cover supply shortfalls, given the refinery’s limited capacity. NNPCL also challenged its inclusion, arguing that the refinery lacked the legal standing to sue.
Although the court dismissed NNPCL’s preliminary objection on procedural grounds, Dangote Refinery moved to amend the suit to correct a misnomer. However, ahead of the scheduled hearing on September 29, it filed a notice of discontinuance, signed by its counsel, Ogwu Onoja (SAN), without providing reasons for the withdrawal.
