Dangote Petroleum Refinery has filed a fresh lawsuit against the Federal Government and Nigeria’s downstream petroleum regulator over the continued issuance of fuel import licences to marketers and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
The refinery is challenging permits granted by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, arguing that the approvals violate an earlier court order directing all parties to maintain the status quo.
The latest legal action revives a dispute that first surfaced last year when the refinery sued the regulator and several fuel importers over the continued importation of products such as diesel and aviation fuel despite the existence of local refining capacity.
Although the refinery later withdrew the N100 billion lawsuit in 2025, court documents show the company has now returned to court, insisting that fresh import licences issued this month are unlawful and harmful to its operations.
According to the refinery, Nigerian law only permits fuel imports when there is insufficient local supply, arguing that continued approvals for imports undermine domestic refining efforts.
Regulators and marketers, however, maintain that imports are still necessary to guarantee stable supply and avoid fuel shortages across the country.
Nigeria has historically relied heavily on imported petroleum products due to years of underperforming state-owned refineries. The $20 billion Dangote Refinery, with a refining capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, was expected to significantly reduce the country’s dependence on imports and position Nigeria as a major fuel exporter.
However, fuel imports have continued as the refinery gradually increases production and distribution capacity.
The renewed legal battle highlights growing tensions over competition, fuel pricing and control of petroleum supply within Nigeria’s downstream sector.
The development also comes amid reports that the refinery rejected attempts by NNPC to increase its stake in the facility ahead of its planned public listing.
