…NMDPRA Ordered to Keep Licensing Three Marketers as Dangote Suit Looms
An Abuja Federal High Court ruling has reopened the legal battle over Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, with Justice Inyang Ekwo directing the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to continue issuing fuel import licences to Matrix Energy, AA Rano, and AYM Shafa.
CDA News Nigeria reports that the court held that NMDPRA’s refusal to renew the marketers’ licences was in “direct non-compliance” with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, rendering any non-compliant exercise “null and void”.
CDA News Nigeria gathered that the ruling directly counters Dangote Refinery’s separate suit, which argues imports are only lawful during domestic supply shortfalls. The marketers claimed they invested over $20 billion collectively in infrastructure and retail networks.
Industry operators have kicked against continued imports, warning that every litre imported drains foreign exchange and undermines local refining capacity.
Keywords: NMDPRA, fuel import licences, Dangote Refinery, Abuja court ruling, Matrix Energy, AA Rano, AYM Shafa
Tags: #NMDPRA #FuelImport #DangoteRefinery #CourtRuling #PIA #DownstreamSector #NigeriaOil
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Nairaland Headline: Fuel Import: Abuja Court Ruling Opens Fresh Battle — NMDPRA Ordered To Keep Licensing Matrix, AA Rano, AYM
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Meta Tags: NMDPRA fuel import licences, Dangote Refinery lawsuit, Federal High Court Abuja, Matrix Energy AA Rano AYM Shafa, Petroleum Industry Act
Category: Business / Energy
Source verification: Original reporting based on Federal High Court Abuja judgment by Justice Inyang Ekwo, as published by BusinessDay, TheCable, Daily Post, and Tribune Online.
Editorial Policy: CDA News Nigeria is committed to accurate and balanced reporting. Legal findings are attributed to court proceedings.
Byline: By CDA News Nigeria Correspondent
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