Dangote Refinery has taken the Nigerian government to court, challenging newly issued fuel import permits granted to petrol marketers and to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL. The dispute has reignited concerns about whether Nigeria’s drive to deepen domestic refining is being undermined by fresh licensing for imported volumes.
In a court filing submitted on Friday, the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to revoke import authorisations issued or renewed by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA. The company is seeking to have the permits set aside, arguing that the licensing decision runs counter to the legal framework governing when imports should be allowed.
The challenge comes after industry stakeholders objected to new petrol import licenses awarded to six petroleum marketers, even as Dangote Refinery is positioned to cover a large share of local fuel demand. The company’s scale has been cited as a key reason that additional import permissions may be unnecessary.
NMDPRA’s own industrial figures indicate that in April 2026 Dangote Refinery supplied 79% of Nigeria’s petrol consumption. Despite that data point—and notwithstanding advice from industrial experts—NMDPRA proceeded with issuing fresh permits, prompting Dangote to contest the regulator’s stance through the courts.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery has now filed a new lawsuit aimed at overturning the fuel import licenses granted to marketers and to the NNPC. The refinery accused the government of shifting policy direction, describing the approach as inconsistent with a stated “Nigerian-first” posture intended to prioritise locally produced fuel.
The company said it wants to protect the momentum from domestic refining and therefore sought to nullify import authorisations issued to the NNPCL and multiple traders. In its filing, Dangote argued that the permits issued in May interfere with its operations and breach the applicable rules, which it says permit imports only when domestic supply is insufficient.
Dangote Refinery previously withdrew an earlier legal action involving petrol importers in 2025 after intervention by the Federal Government, but the company has now returned to court as new licensing decisions were made.
Daily Post reported that petrol importers are selling fuel at roughly N1,285 to N1,295 per litre, while Dangote Refinery offers the product at N1,200 per litre.
