Dangote Petroleum Refinery has filed a fresh lawsuit against Nigeria’s Attorney General, seeking to overturn fuel import licences issued to petroleum marketers and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd).
Court documents seen by Reuters indicate that the suit was filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos and challenges import permits issued or renewed by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The legal action marks a resurgence of tensions nearly a year after the refinery withdrew an earlier suit contesting similar licences granted to NNPC and several fuel traders. That case was discontinued in July 2025 without public explanation.
In the new filing, Dangote argues that the permits violate an existing court order directing all parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the dispute.
The company further contends that the Petroleum Industry Act permits fuel imports only when local refineries are unable to meet domestic demand.
According to the refinery, the newly issued licences threaten its commercial operations and undermine the objective of achieving self-sufficiency in Nigeria’s petroleum supply chain.
The NMDPRA had not responded to requests for comment as of the time of filing this report.
Regulators and fuel marketers have consistently maintained that petroleum imports remain necessary to guarantee adequate supply and prevent shortages across the country.
Nigeria has depended heavily on imported petrol for decades due to the poor performance of government-owned refineries. Dangote’s $20 billion refinery, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, was expected to eliminate that dependence.
However, imports have continued as the refinery gradually ramps up production to meet nationwide demand.
