Dangote Refinery files lawsuit against NNPC, marketers’ fuel import licences

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Lagos seeking to nullify fuel import licences issued to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and other marketers. The lawsuit argues that these permits violate a previous court order to maintain the status quo and contravene Nigerian law, which the company claims permits imports only when local supply is insufficient. This legal action comes as local refining capacity has surged, with domestic refineries supplying approximately 76.7% of Nigeria's petrol in the first quarter of 2026, a significant increase from 45.2% the previous year. The move reignites tensions over fuel importation, a practice Nigeria has historically relied on due to the poor performance of state-owned refineries. This is not the first time Dangote has challenged these licences; in 2025, it filed a similar suit seeking N100 billion in damages, though it later withdrew that case. The refinery, now a major supplier and exporter of refined products, asserts that it has the capacity to meet Nigeria's needs and is ramping up output from its multi-billion-dollar facility.

(Source：Nairametrics)