Dangote Refinery To Drop Lawsuit Against NNPCL, Others By January 2025

Dangote Refinery has announced plans to formally withdraw its lawsuit against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, and other oil marketers by January 2025. The lawsuit initially sought to revoke the fuel importation licenses of these entities.

Anthony Chiejina, Chief Branding and Communications Officer for the Dangote Group, explained that the dispute, which began in June, has become outdated following President Bola Tinubu’s directive on crude oil and refined product sales under the Naira Initiative. The directive, approved by the Federal Executive Council, has shifted the focus of the involved parties.

Chiejina further clarified that no legal processes have been served, and there are no plans to proceed with court filings. Discussions between the parties are ongoing, and they have agreed to suspend any legal action. The lawsuit will be formally withdrawn when the case is mentioned in court in January 2025.

“We’ve made significant progress following President Tinubu’s directive, and events have overtaken the original issue,” Chiejina said. “No party has been served with court documents, and once the matter comes up in January, we will officially withdraw it.”

The Dangote Group reassured that no court orders have been issued and that the case has no negative impact on any of the involved parties.