The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has accused Dangote Petroleum Refinery of attempting to monopolise Nigeria’s fuel market through a lawsuit challenging import licences granted to rival marketers.
In court documents, the state oil company argued that granting Dangote’s request to void or restrict fuel import permits would undermine competition and expose Nigeria to supply disruptions, price instability and threats to national energy security.
The position was contained in a proposed defence filed before the Federal High Court in Lagos in response to a suit instituted by Dangote Petroleum Refinery against the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Reuters reported that the legal dispute has resulted in the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) applying to join the case.
The move comes less than a month after Dangote Petroleum Refinery filed a fresh lawsuit against Nigeria’s Attorney-General, seeking to overturn fuel import licences granted to oil marketers and the NNPC.
