Three oil marketers apply to join Dangote Refinery's N100B import licence suit
Three major oil marketers—Matrix Energy, AA Rano, and AYM Shafa—have applied to join Dangote Refinery's N100 billion lawsuit against Nigeria's Attorney General challenging fuel import licences, according to their June 16, 2026 Motion on Notice obtained by Nairametrics. The marketers seek to be added as defendants in the case at Lagos Federal High Court, arguing they're necessary parties since the suit affects their NMDPRA-licensed import businesses.
The applicants claim they've invested over $20 billion in Nigeria's petroleum infrastructure and have imported products for two decades—long before Dangote Refinery's operations. They allege Dangote seeks to force competitors out via court to create a monopoly, prohibited by the Petroleum Industry Act, and warn that granting the refinery's requests would have 'unquantified' consequences for businesses, jobs, and the economy.
This legal battle comes as Dangote Refinery's rise transforms Nigeria's fuel landscape: petrol imports fell 60.2% year-on-year to 965.52 million litres in Q1 2026 while local refinery output surged 59.2% to 3.179 billion litres. Domestic suppliers now provide 76.7% of Nigeria's petrol versus 45.2% in Q1 2025. The case is adjourned until October 7, 2026.
With Dangote Refinery pushing to end imports while marketers defend their licensed businesses, will this legal fight stabilize prices through local production or risk shortages and higher costs if domestic supply can't fully meet demand?