Fuel import licences go to the Court of Appeal

Fuel import licences go to the Court of Appeal

The Federal High Court held that the NMDPRA’s refusal to grant or renew import licences breached the Petroleum Industry Act. The Dangote refinery now wants to join the appeal.

October 17, 2026

A Federal High Court ruling against the downstream regulator’s refusal of fuel import licences is heading to the Court of Appeal, and the Dangote refinery wants a say.

The ruling

On 28 September 2026 the Federal High Court in Abuja (Ekwo J) held, in a suit by Matrix Energy, AA Rano and AYM Shafa against the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (FHC/ABJ/CS/1363/2026), that the regulator’s refusal to grant or renew their import licences did not comply with the Petroleum Industry Act. The court cited sections 31 and 32 of the Act and section 72 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, and ordered continued licensing once the companies meet the NMDPRA’s conditions (Premium Times).

The appeal

On 6 October the Dangote refinery applied to the Court of Appeal for leave to appeal as an interested party (Nairametrics).

Who it affects

Importers and marketers; the regulator’s licensing discretion; and, indirectly, investors weighing the refinery’s IPO, since competition from imported product bears on its domestic market.

Photo: Mark Bwehfuk / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (illustrative).

The Meridian Editorial Team

Andrew U. — Editorial Director | Damilare A. — Intelligence Director | Amaka Nwoye — Senior Legal Research Analyst | Salome Mensah — Market Intelligence Analyst | May Ndlovu — Editorial Researcher | K.K. Lawal — Senior Correspondent | The Meridian’s editorial team brings experience across West African legal markets, commercial law, market intelligence and structured research. Our standard is simple: evidence first, independent judgement, and analysis grounded in how legal work happens in practice.