Court Blocks NMDPRA from Shutting Dangote Refinery

On Monday, a Federal High Court in Lagos, presided over by Justice Akintayo Aluko, issued an order preventing the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) from shutting down or interfering with operations at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery located in the Lekki Free Zone. The order was made in response to a motion ex parte marked FHC/L/CS/1174/26, filed by the legal representatives of Dangote Petroleum Refinery Limited, Olawale Akoni and Abimbola Akeredolu, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria.

The dispute originated from a directive issued by the NMDPRA on August 24, 2026, which sought to suspend the loading and truck-out of petroleum products from the refinery. The court found that the NMDPRA may not have regulatory authority over operations within free zones, as indicated by a letter from the Attorney-General of the Federation dated March 2, 2026.

Justice Aluko noted the urgency of the matter and scheduled a hearing for September 9, 2026, while also requiring that the NMDPRA be formally served with the order.