Dangote Petroleum Refinery has filed a new lawsuit against Nigeria’s attorney general in a ​bid to overturn fuel import licences issued to ‌marketers and the NNPC state oil firm, court documents seen by Reuters show.

The case signals renewed tensions almost a year after Dangote withdrew an ​earlier lawsuit challenging similar licences. That case sought ​to nullify import permits issued to the Nigerian ⁠National Petroleum Company and several traders.

The new filing asks ​the Federal High Court in Lagos to set aside import ​permits issued or renewed by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), arguing they breach an earlier order to maintain the ​status quo.

NMDPRA did not immediately respond to a request ​for comment.
Regulators and marketers have previously argued imports are needed to ‌ensure ⁠adequate supply and prevent shortages.

Dangote said in the filing that the licences issued this month undermine its operations and contravene the law, which it argues allows imports only when ​domestic supply ​falls short.

Dangote ⁠ended the earlier lawsuit in July 2025 without explanation, leaving unresolved questions over competition and ​supply in one of Africa’s largest fuel ​markets.

Nigeria ⁠has long relied on petrol imports due to underperforming state refineries. Dangote’s $20 billion facility, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels ⁠per ​day, was billed to end that ​dependence, but imports have continued to cover supply gaps as the refinery ​ramps up output.

REUTERS