Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to continue granting, issuing, extending, renewing or reissuing petroleum products import licences to Matrix Energy, AA Rano and AYM Shafa.
Gatekeepers News reports that Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the order on Monday while delivering judgment in a suit filed by the three oil marketers against the petroleum regulator.
The court held that the NMDPRA’s refusal to issue or renew the companies’ import licences was in “direct non-compliance” with provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Justice Ekwo said the authority had acted beyond the provisions of the law, adding that any regulatory exercise concerning import licences that violated the PIA and other relevant laws would be “null and void”.
The three companies had approached the court through their lawyers, Raji Ahmed, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and Chris Ekemezie. They sought declarations that the PIA does not prohibit the importation of petroleum products or prevent the NMDPRA from granting or renewing licences for eligible operators.
In his judgment, Ekwo held that the marketers had successfully established their case.
The judge also referred to provisions of the PIA and Section 72 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, which he said require the NMDPRA to promote competition in the midstream and downstream petroleum sectors and prevent abuse of dominant market positions and restrictive business practices.
The court consequently directed the NMDPRA to continue granting, issuing, extending, renewing or reissuing licences, permits and authorisations for midstream and downstream operations, particularly petroleum products imports, to Matrix Energy, AA Rano and AYM Shafa, subject to their fulfilment of statutory and regulatory requirements.
The ruling comes amid an ongoing dispute over petrol import licences. On September 23, the NMDPRA approved 830,000 tonnes of petrol imports for the fourth quarter of 2026, with Matrix Energy, AA Rano and AYM Shafa among six companies granted permits.
