NNPC Tells Court Dangote Petrol Too Expensive, Fuel Imports Must Continue

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has told the Federal High Court in Lagos that petrol from the Dangote refinery is sold at prices that are too high and too unstable, and that fuel imports must be allowed to continue to protect consumers from price exploitation.

Counter-Affidavit Challenges Dangote’s Monopoly Claims

NNPC filed the counter-affidavit in opposition to Dangote’s originating summons in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/857/2026, where Africa’s largest private refinery is asking the court to void import licences granted to six petroleum marketers. The state oil company urged the court to dismiss the suit on grounds that it is incompetent, premature and an abuse of court process.

“The plaintiff’s suit is premature; the plaintiff lacks locus standi,” NNPC argued in its filing.

The six companies cleared to import between 600,000 and 720,000 metric tonnes of petrol are NIPCO, AA Rano, Matrix Energy, Shafa Energy, Pinnacle Oil and Gas, and Bono Energy. Dangote argues the approvals violate a court order from April 29 directing all parties to maintain the status quo, and are inconsistent with the Petroleum Industry Act.

PETROAN Backs NNPC Position

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria also filed documents supporting NNPC’s position, arguing that competition in the petroleum sector is needed to prevent price exploitation and that multiple supply sources would bring fuel prices down for consumers.

NNPC’s filing represents its most direct formal challenge yet to Dangote’s legal strategy. The state oil company has effectively sided with the marketers whose import licences Dangote wants cancelled, arguing that competition from imports is necessary for Nigerian consumers.

Ongoing Commercial Conflict

The dispute adds a new front to a conflict that has been developing since the refinery began operations in 2024. Dangote has publicly accused NNPC of sabotaging his $20 billion investment by denying the refinery adequate crude supplies and supporting competing fuel imports even as the facility runs above its 650,000-barrel-per-day nameplate capacity.

In the first quarter of 2026, domestic refining accounted for approximately 76.7 per cent of total national petrol supply, with imports at 965 million litres compared to the refinery’s 3.18 billion litres.

The case is expected to be heard in the coming weeks at the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division.

Sources: Punch, billionaires.africa, ThisDay