The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has secured interim court orders restraining the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) from interfering with its operations, amid a separate decision by the refinery to restrict Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) sales to petroleum marketers holding import licences.
The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos issued the orders following an application filed by Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE, restraining NMDPRA, its officers, agents and representatives from shutting down, disrupting or interfering with the refinery’s operations.
The court also barred the regulator from enforcing a directive suspending the loading and truck out of petroleum products from the refinery pending the hearing.Â
The legal action followed a directive reportedly issued by NMDPRA on August 24, 2026, suspending the loading and truck-out of products from the Dangote Refinery.
While the court battle continues, Dangote Refinery is also moving to restrict PMS sales to marketers that hold active petrol import licences.
The affected companies include Matrix Energy, A.A. Rano, AYM Shafa, NIPCO, Pinnacle Oil and Gas and Bono Energy, which collectively hold licences to import about 720,000 metric tonnes of petrol.
The refinery’s decision reportedly stems from concerns that imported petrol could be mixed with its locally refined products, potentially creating quality control challenges and damaging the reputation of its brand.
Dangote has also raised concerns about the capacity of the NMDPRA to adequately test and monitor imported petroleum products entering the Nigerian market.
The development comes amid increased petrol imports, with imported PMS accounting for about 43 per cent of total petrol supply in July.
Dangote Refinery has consistently advocated for greater reliance on locally refined petroleum products, arguing that continued petrol imports could undermine Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen domestic refining capacity.
The latest developments have intensified the debate over regulation, competition and fuel imports in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector. While stakeholders watch closely to see how the court orders and Dangote’s new sales policy will affect petrol supply, pricing and availability.
By Musekir Faisat OmolaraÂ
