A Federal High Court in Lagos has issued an interim order preventing the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) from shutting down or disrupting operations at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

The order was granted on Monday by Justice Akintayo Aluko following an ex-parte application filed by the refinery through its legal team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olawale Akoni.

The court’s decision followed a dispute over a directive issued by the NMDPRA on August 24, 2026, which reportedly suspended the loading and truck-out of petroleum products from the refinery.

Dangote Refinery had asked the court to stop the regulator from enforcing the directive and from taking actions that could interfere with its refinery, storage, loading, truck-out and related operations at the Lekki Free Zone.

In granting the application, Justice Aluko said the court had a responsibility to protect the subject matter of a case from being affected before the substantive issues were fully determined.

The judge also referred to a March 2, 2026 letter from the Attorney-General of the Federation, which, according to the court, stated that the NMDPRA did not have regulatory or oversight powers over operations within free zones.

Justice Aluko noted that the regulator had subsequently issued its August 24 directive despite the position contained in the Attorney-General’s letter.

The judge said Dangote Refinery had met the legal requirements for an interim injunction and had also agreed to compensate the NMDPRA if it was later determined that the court order should not have been granted.

The court consequently restrained the NMDPRA and persons acting on its behalf from enforcing the August 24 directive or interfering with the refinery’s operations pending the determination of the motion on notice.

The refinery was also directed to file a formal undertaking regarding damages.

The case has been adjourned until September 9, 2026, when the court is expected to hear the motion on notice.