Dangote Refinery has withdrawn its ₦100bn lawsuit against NNPC and oil marketers, fueling speculation of a behind-the-scenes settlement
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has withdrawn its ₦100 billion lawsuit against NNPC Ltd, AYM Shafa Ltd, and A.A. Rano Ltd without offering a reason.
Filed in September 2024, the case challenged the issuance of fuel import licenses, which Dangote argued contravened the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) by undermining domestic refining. A July 28, 2025, court notice signed by Ogwu James Onoja, SAN, confirmed the suit’s discontinuation.
“Take notice that the plaintiff herein discontinues this suit against the defendants forthwith,” it read.
The refinery, which began operations in 2024 with a 650,000 bpd capacity, claimed licenses issued by NMDPRA to competitors like NNPC were unjustified.
Defendants countered that the refinery could not meet national demand alone and defended the licensing process.
Though the suit had been set for hearing on September 29, the sudden withdrawal has sparked speculation of a settlement or policy shift.
Neither Dangote Group nor the government has issued a statement clarifying the decision.