Dangote Refinery Sues FG Over Fuel Import Licenses

Dangote Refinery has initiated legal action against the Federal Government and Petrochem FZE, filing a suit in the Federal High Court in Lagos to challenge the validity of fuel import licenses issued by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) on May 6, 2026. The case, assigned to Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, is recorded under suit number FHC/L/CS/857/2026.

The refinery contends that the licenses breach an existing court order that directed parties to maintain the status quo. The plaintiff relies on Section 6(36)(1) and Section 287 of the 1999 Constitution, alongside Order 26, Rule 1 and 2 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2019.

Dangote argues that the issuance of these licenses undermines its operations and contravenes statutory provisions governing petroleum import companies, especially when domestic supply is insufficient. The lawsuit reflects ongoing legal tensions in Nigeria's downstream petroleum market, where Dangote Refinery aims to reduce reliance on fuel imports despite commencing operations at its $20 billion facility.