Dangote Refinery has addressed recent reports concerning the lawsuit it filed against the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and five other companies involved in the importation of petroleum products.
The firms named alongside NNPCL in the case are Aym Shafa Limited, A. A. Rano Limited, T. Time Petroleum Limited, 2015 Petroleum Limited, and Matrix Petroleum Services Limited.
In the suit, filed before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Dangote Refinery seeks N100 billion in damages from the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). The company alleges that NMDPRA has continued to issue import licenses to NNPCL and the other defendants, despite the refinery’s capacity to meet the domestic demand for Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and Jet-A1 fuel.
However, in a statement, Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer of Dangote Group, clarified that the lawsuit is not recent.
“This is an old issue that started in June and culminated in a matter being filed on September 6, 2024,” Chiejina said.
He further explained that discussions are currently ongoing between the parties, particularly after President Bola Tinubu’s directive on the Crude Oil and Refined Products Sales in Naira Initiative, which has made significant progress.
“No party has been served with court processes, and there is no intention of doing so. We have agreed to put a halt to the proceedings,” Chiejina added.
Chiejina assured that there are no court orders or adverse effects on any of the parties, and the matter is expected to be withdrawn when it comes up in court in January 2025.
The case remains a point of interest as it highlights the tensions between domestic production capacities and the continued issuance of import licenses.