Dangote Seeks Court Order to Halt Petrol Import Licences as Local Output Rises

Dangote Refinery has filed a fresh suit at the Federal High Court in Lagos seeking the cancellation of petrol import licences issued to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and several private marketers. The company argues that continued approvals by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority breach an earlier court directive to maintain the status quo. The refinery contends that Nigerian law allows fuel imports only when local production cannot meet national demand. With domestic refining output rising—local plants supplied over 3.18 billion litres of petrol in Q1 2026 while imports fell by more than 60%—Dangote says import licences now threaten its commercial viability. Oil marketers maintain that imports remain necessary to guarantee nationwide supply and prevent shortages. The dispute follows a similar 2025 suit, withdrawn before trial, and highlights the ongoing battle between growing local refining capacity and established importers in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum market.

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