Fuel import licences: Energy Watchdog backs Dangote Refinery’s appeal against court ruling, faults NMDPRA

The Energy Watchdog in Nigeria has supported Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals' appeal against a recent Federal High Court ruling that directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to continue issuing import licences to three major oil marketers. The court's decision, delivered on September 28, 2026, was described as flawed by the watchdog, as it undermined the objectives of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and threatened investments in domestic refining capacity.

The Energy Watchdog cited a declining trend in petrol imports and increased supplies from local refineries, particularly the Dangote facility, as evidence of growing domestic refining capacity. They argued that the ruling could weaken investor confidence and reverse recent progress in the downstream petroleum industry. The watchdog urged the Court of Appeal to grant Dangote Refinery leave to appeal and overturn the Federal High Court's order, emphasizing the importance of the case for Nigeria's energy security and refining industry development.

Brief written by urgent.news from Daily Post Nigeria's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.