- Court to rule on NNPCL’s objection March 18.
- Dangote Refinery challenges oil import licenses.
- NNPCL claims lawsuit is invalid.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has set March 18 for its ruling on a preliminary objection filed by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) in a legal dispute with Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE over an oil import license.
Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the date on Wednesday after hearing arguments from NNPCL’s lawyer, Ademola Abimbola, SAN, and Dangote Refinery’s counsel, John Ibrahim, SAN. The court will decide whether to strike out the case or remove NNPCL from the suit.
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The dispute centers on Dangote Refinery’s challenge to oil import licenses issued by the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to NNPCL and five other companies.
Dangote argues that these licenses violate the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which restricts imports unless there is a proven shortfall in local petroleum production.
In its suit, Dangote Refinery is demanding the nullification of the licenses and is seeking ₦100 billion in damages against NMDPRA for allegedly allowing continued importation of petroleum products despite domestic production.
However, NNPCL, through its preliminary objection, contends that the lawsuit is incompetent and premature, arguing that the court lacks jurisdiction.
It also claims that the entity sued, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), does not exist. A supporting affidavit filed by NNPCL states that a search on the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) website confirms this claim.
NNPCL’s legal team insists that the suit should either be struck out entirely or at least exclude NNPCL as a defendant. Dangote Refinery, in response, maintains that NNPCL’s objection is baseless and should be dismissed.
Meanwhile, NMDPRA has defended its decision to issue the disputed import licenses, arguing that Dangote Refinery has not yet achieved sufficient production levels to meet Nigeria’s fuel demands.
It asserts that the licenses were issued in compliance with the PIA to prevent fuel shortages and promote market competition.
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Oil marketers, including AYM Shafa Limited, A. A. Rano Limited, and Matrix Petroleum Services Limited, have also opposed Dangote’s claims, warning that restricting fuel imports could destabilize the oil sector and create an unhealthy monopoly.
With multiple parties involved, the court’s ruling on March 18 will be a crucial step in determining the future of oil importation policies and competition in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.
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