Dangote refinery clashes with regulators over Nigeria fuel import licences

Nigeria’s Dangote Petroleum Refinery has filed a lawsuit seeking to invalidate recently issued fuel import licences that it says undermine the $20 billion, 650,000‑bbl‑per‑day refinery. The suit targets permits granted by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to marketers and the state oil firm NNPC.

The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) warned that overturning the licences could destabilise the downstream sector, which relies on the approvals to protect fuel supply security. It argues that the licences are legal tools, not “administrative courtesies,” and that retroactive voiding would harm companies that have invested in storage and logistics.

Conversely, the Jetties and Petroleum Tank Farm Owners of Nigeria (JETFON) supported Dangote’s position, urging the federal government to cancel all active import licences. JETFON cites NMDPRA data showing a sharp drop in fuel imports and says domestic refining, led by Dangote, can satisfy national demand, reducing foreign‑exchange pressure and boosting economic independence.