Dangote has taken fresh decision on ₦100bn lawsuit against NNPC among others.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that tthe Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has officially withdrawn its ₦100 billion lawsuit against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and five major oil marketers.
The suit, which was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, was discontinued following a notice of withdrawal submitted by Dangote’s legal team. Also named in the suit were AYM Shafa Ltd., A. A. Rano Ltd., T. Time Petroleum Ltd., 2015 Petroleum Ltd., and Matrix Petroleum Services Ltd.
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Though the official reason for the withdrawal was not disclosed, industry insiders speculate that a possible out-of-court settlement or ongoing negotiations may have influenced the decision. No confirmation has been made by the refinery or any of the defendants at the time of reporting.
Dangote had initially sought ₦100 billion in damages, accusing the NMDPRA of violating Sections 317(8) and (9) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) by approving fuel import licences for marketers despite the refinery’s capacity to meet domestic supply. The company alleged that such approvals undermined Nigeria’s refining ambitions and encouraged excessive importation.
In a strong rebuttal, the marketers argued that they were fully entitled under the PIA to receive such licences and accused Dangote of attempting to monopolize the sector by controlling fuel supply and market pricing. The NMDPRA also defended its position, insisting that the licences were issued to experienced importers to close supply gaps and meet national demand.
The legal battle had earlier encountered procedural hurdles, including a disputed error in naming NNPC Ltd. as a defendant. However, Justice Inyang Ekwo ruled in favor of Dangote, stating that the mislabeling did not nullify the suit.
With the lawsuit now dropped, the spotlight shifts to the implications for Nigeria’s fuel supply chain and whether this marks the beginning of improved collaboration or deeper rivalry within the downstream sector.
