Federal high court has dismissed Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited’s objection to its inclusion in a lawsuit filed by Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
Gatekeepers News reports that the lawsuit challenges the import licenses issued to oil marketers, including NNPC, Matrix Petroleum Services Limited, and A. A. Rano Limited.
Dangote refinery argues that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) violated the Petroleum Industry Act by granting licenses for petroleum product importation without a shortfall.
The refiner also claims that NMDPRA failed to encourage local refineries, such as Dangote refinery.
NNPC had objected to the suit, stating that domestic consumption exceeds Dangote refinery’s production, making imports necessary. However, the court dismissed NNPC’s objections, and the case has been adjourned to May 6.
Dangote refinery is seeking N100 billion in damages from NMDPRA, NNPC, and five oil marketers.
