The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday dismissed a ₦100 billion lawsuit filed by Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which had challenged the federal government’s decision to issue licences for the importation of petroleum products into Nigeria.
Africa’s largest refinery had brought the case against the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), opposing its decision to grant fuel import licences to NNPC Ltd and five other companies, AYM Shafa Ltd, A.A. Rano Ltd, T. Time Petroleum Ltd, 2015 Petroleum Ltd, and Matrix Petroleum Services Ltd.
Dangote Refinery had asked the court to invalidate the licences, arguing that they were issued in violation of the law.
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NNPC Ltd responded by urging the court to dismiss the case, while three of the oil marketers, AYM Shafa Limited, A.A. Rano Limited, and Matrix Petroleum Services Limited, represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ahmed Raji (SAN), also filed a joint counter-affidavit opposing the refinery’s suit.
The marketers argued that approving Dangote Refinery’s application would harm Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Although the court initially ruled in March 2025 that the case could proceed, the refinery’s lawyer, C.O. Adegbe, formally applied this week to withdraw the suit, effectively bringing the high-profile legal battle to an end, according to Business Insider Africa.
The withdrawal comes about two weeks after President Bola Tinubu approved a 15% import duty on petrol and diesel, a policy shift that may have influenced the refinery’s decision to drop the case.
The new tariff, which includes a 30-day transition period, is expected to take effect within a month, adding fresh momentum to the debate surrounding fuel imports and domestic refining in Africa’s largest oil producer.
Meanwhile, Dangote Refinery said it now produces more gasoline and diesel than Nigeria can consume and expressed support for the federal government’s decision to impose the 15% import duty on refined petroleum products.
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Image Credit: Premium Times
