The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has withdrawn a lawsuit it filed against the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and several oil marketers over the issuance of fuel import licences. The refinery had initially argued that NMDPRA violated the Petroleum Industry Act by allowing imports despite local refining capacity, and had sought ₦100 billion in damages. However, in a recent filing before the Federal High Court in Abuja, Dangote’s legal team submitted a notice of discontinuance without stating any reasons.

The case had drawn strong opposition from oil marketers and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), who accused Dangote of attempting to monopolise fuel supply and pricing. NMDPRA also maintained that the refinery’s current output could not meet Nigeria’s daily fuel demand, justifying the issuance of import licences to bridge supply gaps. Despite earlier legal objections and counters, the court had allowed the case to proceed, setting a hearing date for September 29 — now moot following Dangote’s withdrawal.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has praised the Dangote refinery for its engineering excellence and investment in local human capital, particularly among young Nigerian engineers. During a recent visit to the Lagos facility, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, highlighted the refinery’s role in skills development alongside its infrastructure achievements. The Vice President of Oil & Gas at Dangote Industries, Edwin Devakumar, noted that the refinery produces Euro-V standard fuels, meets 100% of domestic needs, and employs advanced environmental technologies — positioning it as a critical asset for Nigeria’s energy future.