Court Orders NMDPRA to Grant Fuel Licenses to Marketers

On September 28, 2026, the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, mandated the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to continue issuing petroleum products import licenses to three oil marketers: Matrix Energy, AA Rano, and AYM Shafa. The court found that the NMDPRA's refusal to grant these licenses was in direct non-compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

The plaintiffs, represented by lawyers Raji Ahmed, SAN, and Chris Ekemezie, argued that the PIA does not prohibit the importation of petroleum products nor the issuance of licenses to eligible importers. Justice Ekwo ruled that the NMDPRA's actions were beyond the law's provisions, rendering any refusal of licenses null and void.

The court declared that upon fulfilling the necessary conditions, the plaintiffs are entitled to the issuance, extension, or renewal of import licenses. The judgment emphasized the NMDPRA's obligation to promote a competitive market in the petroleum sector.