Fuel import licences: Energy Watchdog backs Dangote Refinery’s appeal against court ruling, faults NMDPRA

The Energy Watchdog has backed Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals’ determination to question permission to entreaty a Federal High Court judgement directing the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to proceed issuing petroleum merchandise import licences to 3 large lipid marketers.

In a connection issued by Martins Tayo, the radical described the determination arsenic indispensable to support Nigeria’s home refining manufacture and trim dependence connected imported petroleum products.

The judgment, delivered connected September 28, 2026, by Justice Inyang E. Ekwo successful Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1363/2026, ordered the NMDPRA to proceed issuing import licences to Matrix Energy, AA Rano and AYM Shafa.

The Energy Watchdog argued that the ruling undermined the objectives of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and threatened investments successful home refining capacity.

“We wholly cull and condemn successful totality the judgement of the little court. It is simply a profoundly flawed determination that disregards the wide intent of the Petroleum Industry Act and the nationalist involvement successful gathering a robust home refining industry,” the connection signed by Engr. Martins Tayo said.

The radical besides cited a reported diminution successful petrol imports successful the archetypal 4th of 2026, alon...