Court Orders NMDPRA to License Oil Marketers for Imports

On September 29, 2026, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Abuja court ruled that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) must continue to issue petroleum products import licenses to Matrix Energy, A.A. Rano, and AYM Shafa.

The judgment was in response to a suit filed by the three oil marketers, which argued that the NMDPRA's refusal to issue or renew their licenses was in “direct non-compliance” with the Petroleum Act (PIA) 2021. Justice Ekwo stated that the PIA does not prohibit imports or prevent the NMDPRA from licensing eligible importers.

The court mandated that the NMDPRA process all relevant licenses for the plaintiffs, provided they meet statutory requirements. The ruling faced opposition from the Petroleum Dealers Association of Nigeria, with National Secretary Ibrahim Shehu Yahaya expressing concerns about the necessity of imports given the increasing output from local refineries, particularly the Dangote Refinery.

The court's decision does not eliminate regulatory oversight but affirms that eligible marketers can obtain or renew licenses after fulfilling legal requirements.