Three oil companies—Matrix Petroleum Services Limited, A.A. Rano Limited, and AYM Shafa Limited have asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to prohibit the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) from reviewing or withdrawing their import licenses.
They also asked the court not to block them from importing petrol in the interest of energy security and promotion of healthy competition in the Nigerian oil and gas sector.
This is stated in their court processes in response to the suit filed by Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE, which is seeking to void the import licenses issued to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and five other companies for importing refined petroleum products that Dangote already produces domestically, without any shortages.
In their written address and counter-affidavit, dated November 5, 2024, and filed by Ahmed Raji SAN, it was submitted that the businesses of the defendants do not in any way hamper, disrupt, or harm Dangote Refinery’s operations.
The three defendants claim the plaintiff allegedly seeks to monopolize the petroleum industry in Nigeria, where it alone would control supply, distribution, and pricing.
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Raji emphasized that countries worldwide ensure energy security, pointing out that even nations like the United States—where oil reserves and refining capacity are far greater than Nigeria’s—still import and store petroleum products to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances and ensure steady supply, thus ensuring energy security.
In suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1324/2024, Nairametrics exclusively reported that Dangote Refinery seeks N100 billion in damages against NMDPRA for allegedly continuing to issue import licenses to NNPCL, Matrix, and other companies for importing petroleum products such as Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and Jet Fuel (Aviation Turbine Fuel), “despite Dangote Refinery producing AGO and Jet-A1 in quantities.
