The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has formally withdrawn its ₦100 billion lawsuit filed against the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), and five other petroleum marketing firms.
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Filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the suit was discontinued through a notice of withdrawal submitted by Dangote’s legal counsel. The affected firms include AYM Shafa Ltd., A. A. Rano Ltd., T. Time Petroleum Ltd., 2015 Petroleum Ltd., and Matrix Petroleum Services Ltd.
Although the withdrawal notice did not provide reasons, it is unclear if an out-of-court resolution was reached or if further negotiations influenced the decision.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that Dangote had initially demanded ₦100 billion in damages, accusing NMDPRA of breaching Sections 317(8) and (9) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) by issuing fuel import licences to marketers despite the refinery’s ability to meet local demand. The refinery argued that this undermined domestic refining and encouraged unnecessary importation.
In response, the oil marketers argued that they were lawfully qualified under the PIA to receive such licences. They accused Dangote of attempting to dominate the sector by restricting competition, controlling supply, and influencing fuel pricing.
NMDPRA defended its actions, stating that import licences were granted only to companies with a verifiable history of international fuel trading, aimed at bridging supply gaps and meeting Nigeria’s daily consumption needs. The agency reiterated its statutory obligation to support competition and prevent market monopoly.
Previously, the refinery sought to correct a naming error in the suit against NNPC Ltd., which the company contested as a ground to dismiss the case. Justice Inyang Ekwo, however, ruled that the misidentification did not invalidate the claim.
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