Dangote Petroleum Refinery has formally withdrawn its ₦100 billion lawsuit challenging the issuance of petroleum import licences in Nigeria.
The refinery had filed the suit on September 6, 2024, accusing the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) of violating sections 317(8) and 317(9) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) by approving importation licences despite the existence of domestic refining capacity. Dangote argued that such licences should only be issued when there is a verified shortfall in local supply.
The NMDPRA was listed as the first defendant, while the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, AYM Shafa Limited, A.A. Rano Limited, T. Time Petroleum Limited, 2015 Petroleum Limited, and Matrix Petroleum Services Limited were also joined in the suit.
At Wednesday’s hearing, Dangote’s counsel, C.O. Adegbe, informed the court that the refinery had filed a notice of discontinuance on July 28 after all parties agreed that the case should be struck out.
Presiding Judge Mohammed Umar subsequently dismissed the suit following submissions from Adegbe and the defence counsel.
