The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC Ltd) has accused Dangote Petroleum Refinery of seeking to stifle competition and expose Nigeria’s fuel market to monopoly control by challenging import licences issued to other oil marketers, according to court documents as reported by Reuters.

Reuters yesterday also reported that in a proposed defence filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, NNPC Ltd, prayed that granting Dangote’s request to void or restrict import permits would expose Nigeria to supply disruptions, price instability and risks to national energy security.

It added that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority have applied to join the case, widening a legal battle over import policy and Dangote refinery’s market position.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery filed the suit in April 2026 against Nigeria’s attorney general, challenging fuel import licences issued or renewed by the NMDPRA, to marketers and NNPC.

Dangote argued that licences undermine local refining and violate provisions of Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act.

NNPC rejected the argument, saying that the law allows import licences to companies with local refining licences or proven records in international crude and petroleum-product trading