The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has withdrawn its ₦100 billion lawsuit against Nigeria’s oil regulators and marketers, ending a legal matter that had been controversial, regarding whether Nigeria should embrace full market competition or focus on exclusive local refining.
In a notice filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, the refinery discontinued its suit against the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and five oil marketing firms.
“Take notice that the plaintiff herein discontinues this suit against the defendants forthwith,” the document read.
Legal Dispute Over Import Licences Ends
The suit, originally filed in September 2024, accused NMDPRA of violating Sections 317(8) and (9) of the Petroleum Industry Act by issuing import licences without confirming a domestic shortfall.
Dangote Refinery argued that this undermined local refining and sought ₦100bn in damages.
Marketers like AYM Shafa, A. A. Rano, and Matrix Petroleum countered, warning that Dangote’s demands would create a monopoly. “Granting Dangote sole control of supply and pricing is a recipe for disaster,” they said.
NMDPRA defended its actions, stating that Dangote’s output couldn’t meet national demand. “We issued licences to bridge supply gaps and prevent monopolies,” said Idris Musa, a senior officer at the agency.
NNPCL also challenged the suit, citing misidentification and lack of legal standing. Though the court dismissed procedural objections, Dangote later amended its filings before ultimately withdrawing the case.
Federal Government Applauds Dangote’s Human Capital Drive
While the legal drama cooled, the refinery earned fresh praise from the Federal Government for its engineering prowess and investment in Nigerian talent.
During a visit to the facility, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, said: “We are equally impressed by the investment in human capital. It is deeply inspiring to see young Nigerians operating world-class equipment with remarkable skill and professionalism.”
Vice President of Oil & Gas at Dangote Industries, Edwin Devakumar, revealed that the refinery trained over 60,000 Nigerians during construction. Many now work abroad, including in the UAE, contributing to Nigeria’s foreign remittance inflow.
The refinery, which produces Euro-V grade fuels and generates 435MW of power, has been hailed as a game-changer.
Engineering bodies like COREN, NSE, and NCDMB have also commended their role in youth development and industrial transformation.
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