Dangote Refinery sues AGF over fuel import licences issued to marketers NNPC

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has taken the Attorney General of the Federation to court in a fresh legal dispute over fuel import licences granted to marketers and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), according to court documents.

The new lawsuit signals renewed tension in Nigeria’s downstream oil sector, barely a year after the refinery withdrew an earlier case challenging similar import approvals issued to NNPC and some fuel traders.

In the fresh filing before the Federal High Court in Lagos, Dangote is asking the court to void import permits issued or renewed by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), arguing that the approvals violate a prior court order directing parties to maintain the status quo.

Regulators and petroleum marketers have consistently defended fuel imports, maintaining that they remain necessary to guarantee adequate supply and prevent nationwide scarcity.

Dangote, in the court documents, argues that the new licences issued this month threaten its operations and run counter to the law, which it says only permits fuel importation when local supply is insufficient.

The refinery had in July 2025 quietly discontinued its earlier suit without giving reasons, leaving unresolved concerns over market competition and fuel supply in one of Africa’s largest petroleum markets.

The latest disagreement comes shortly after the NMDPRA granted import licences to six marketers to bring in 720,000 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), or petrol. The marketers are NIPCO, AA Rano, Matrix, Shafa, Pinnacle and Bono.

Under the allocations, NIPCO is to import 120,000 metric tonnes; AA Rano, 150,000MT; Matrix, 150,000MT; Shafa, 120,000MT; Pinnacle, 120,000MT; and Bono, 60,000MT — bringing the total approved volume to 720,000MT.

The approvals also come amid claims by the NMDPRA that Dangote Refinery currently supplies more than 90 percent of Nigeria’s daily petrol consumption.

Meanwhile, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) recently called on the Federal Government to restore petrol import licences to prevent a possible rise in inflation. The association reiterated its support for healthy competition in the downstream petroleum sector, describing it as critical to growth, operational efficiency and price stability.

PETROAN National President, Billy Gillis-Harry, also backed the recent World Bank position advocating the resumption of petrol imports, stating that the Bank’s stance strengthens PETROAN’s long-standing campaign for a liberalised and competitive downstream oil market.

The World Bank had warned that restricted competition and supply limitations in the downstream sector were contributing to rising fuel prices, with PMS prices already exceeding import parity levels. The global financial institution also cautioned that continued supply rigidity, combined with rising international crude oil prices, could worsen inflationary pressure in Nigeria.

In response, Gillis-Harry insisted that competition remains the most effective means of stabilising prices and guaranteeing the nation’s energy security.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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