Three major petroleum marketers; Matrix Energy Limited, AA Rano Limited and AYM Shafa Limited have asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to allow them to join the ₦100 billion lawsuit filed by Dangote Petroleum Refinery over the issuance of fuel import licences.
The companies, through a Motion on Notice dated June 16, 2026, argued that the outcome of the case could directly affect their operations and investments, making their participation necessary for the court to fairly determine the issues before it.
Dangote Refinery had sued the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), seeking to nullify petroleum import licences issued or renewed by the regulator. The refinery is also asking the court to order the shutdown of facilities used for storing imported fuel where domestic supply is considered sufficient.
In their application, the three marketers said they have invested more than $20 billion in fuel importation, storage, distribution and retail infrastructure over the past two decades. They noted that they were licensed by the NMDPRA long before Dangote Refinery began production.
The firms also argued that preventing licensed marketers from importing petroleum products would reduce competition in the downstream sector and could create a dominant market position for the refinery. They maintained that such an outcome would run contrary to the objectives of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which encourages competition.
The marketers further urged the court to dismiss the suit, contending that Dangote Refinery had previously filed a similar case before withdrawing it.
Earlier in the proceedings, Dangote Refinery sought an interim order restraining the AGF, NMDPRA, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited from issuing or renewing fuel import licences while the case is pending. However, Justice C. J. Aneke directed all parties to maintain the status quo until the substantive application is determined.
The refinery has since accused the NMDPRA of continuing to issue import licences despite the court’s directive. The matter has been adjourned until October 7, 2026, for further hearing.
The legal dispute comes as Nigeria records a sharp drop in petrol imports following increased production by local refineries. According to NMDPRA figures, domestic refineries supplied 3.18 billion litres of petrol in the first quarter of 2026, while imports fell to 965.52 million litres, a 60.2 per cent decline from the same period last year. Local production accounted for 76.7 per cent of the country’s petrol supply during the quarter, strengthening arguments in favour of greater reliance on domestic refining.
