Aliko Dangote’s $20 billion refinery has launched a fresh legal suit on the Federal government over fuel import licences, reigniting one of Africa’s most consequential corporate battles.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery filed a new lawsuit against Nigeria’s Attorney General at the Federal High Court in Lagos, seeking to annul import permits recently issued by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The filing argues that the licences, granted to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and several independent marketers, breach an existing court order to preserve the status quo and violate legislation that restricts imports to periods of domestic supply shortfall.
The move comes less than a year after Dangote abruptly withdrew a nearly identical lawsuit in July 2025. That earlier suit, which sought substantial damages, was later dismissed by the court.
“The licences issued this month undermine our operations and contravene the law,” the refinery stated in its filing.
It argued that domestic capacity has grown sufficiently to render blanket import authorisations both unnecessary and unlawful.
The NMDPRA did not respond to requests for comment. The Attorney General’s office also did not reply immediately.
This lawsuit thrusts back into the open a tension that has shadowed the Nigeria energy policy since Dangote’s refinery commenced production since 2024
Administrator and Writer
