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Court dismisses NNPCL’s objection to Dangote Refinery’s suit on import licence

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A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the objection raised by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) against the competence of a suit filed by Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE (Dangote Refinery).

Dangote is seeking to void the licences issued by the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to some oil marketing companies to import refined petroleum products.

In its objection, the NNPCL challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear the suit and urged the court to strike out its name from the suit on the grounds that it was not properly identified by the plaintiff.

It argued that the name, “Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited,” being its registered name with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), is not the one and the same entity the second defendant sued but the “Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation”.

Ruling yesterday, Justice Inyang Ekwo held that NNPCL’s objection was incompetent as it was filed in violation of Order 29 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules (FHCCPR), 2019.

Justice Ekwo also held that the NNPCL ought to have filed a defence in the form of a counter-affidavit to the plaintiff’s suit before raising an objection.

The judge averred that under the procedure in lieu of demurrer, any party is entitled to raise, by his pleading, any point of law, and that any point so raised may be disposed of by the trial court at trial or after the trial.

He explained that where a defendant seeks to challenge the jurisdiction of the court, it is the provision of Order 29 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules (FHCCPR), 2019, that would be applicable.Justice Ekwo added that the NNPCL failed to comply with the provision.

The judge held that the NNPCL, having not complied with the provisions of the FHCCPR 2019 could not be said to have filed a competent preliminary objection.

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NDIC Seeks Court Approval For Liquidation of 89 Defunct MFBs, PMBs Nationwide

The affected institutions are largely microfinance banks operating across multiple states, including Lagos, Anambra, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Akwa Ibom, Oyo, FCT, Kaduna, Delta, Edo and Kano.

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The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has commenced the process of concluding the liquidation of 89 microfinance banks (MFBs) and primary mortgage banks (PMBs) whose licences were revoked.

The affected institutions are largely microfinance banks operating across multiple states, including Lagos, Anambra, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Akwa Ibom, Oyo, FCT, Kaduna, Delta, Edo and Kano, reflecting the spread of small-scale lenders within the financial system.‎

‎The development follows the revocation of licences of 179 MFBs and four PMBs by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in May 2023, after which selected institutions acquired the assets and liabilities of 89 of the defunct banks under a purchase and assumption arrangement.

‎Under the arrangement, new operators were issued licences to take over the operations of the affected institutions, which have since resumed business under different names across several states.‎

The NDIC said it would, in its capacity as liquidator, approach the Federal High Court to obtain orders for the dissolution of the defunct banks and its discharge as liquidator, in line with its enabling law and other relevant provisions.‎‎

The move signals the conclusion of a resolution process initiated after the regulatory action taken in 2023, with the transfer of assets and liabilities already completed and successor institutions in operation.

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Dangote exported 434m litres petrol in March – NMDPRA

A breakdown of the figures showed that the refinery produced an average of 48.2 million litres of petrol per day, translating to 1.49 billion litres for the 31-day period. Of this volume, 34.2 million litres per day, totalling 1.06 billion litres, was supplied locally.

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• Dangote Petroleum Refinery / Credit: Instagram

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery exported about 434 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) in March 2026.

Data obtained from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA)’s March 2026 fact sheet on the state of the downstream sector on Wednesday revealed that the refinery produced a total of 1.49 billion litres of petrol during the month, while only 1.06 billion litres were supplied to the domestic market, leaving a substantial export surplus.

A breakdown of the figures showed that the refinery produced an average of 48.2 million litres of petrol per day, translating to 1.49 billion litres for the 31-day period. Of this volume, 34.2 million litres per day, totalling 1.06 billion litres, was supplied locally.

This implies that about 434 million litres of petrol were exported within the period.

The export of excess petrol reflects a major shift in Nigeria’s downstream sector, which has historically depended on imports to meet local demand. This development was further confirmed in a statement issued by the refinery earlier this week.It stated that, “Nigeria recorded a historic shift in its downstream petroleum trade in March, emerging as a net exporter of gasoline for the first time, driven largely by rising output from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals.

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Nigeria Unveils 20-Year Aviation Master Plan at ICAO Global Symposium In Morocco

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Nigeria has taken a major step toward transforming its aviation industry, as the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, formally received the country’s Civil Aviation Master Plan from the International Civil Aviation Organization during the opening of the ICAO Global Implementation Support Symposium in Marrakech.

The Minister also participated as a special guest at a high-level Ministerial Round Table, where he addressed the “Future of Aviation Workforce in Nigeria,” outlining government efforts to close the skills gap and strengthen human capital development within the aviation sector.

The Civil Aviation Master Plan (CAMP) represents a landmark framework designed to guide the development of Nigeria’s aviation industry over a 20-year period, from 2025 to 2045.

It reflects a structured and forward-looking strategy aligned with the country’s National Development Plan and broader economic priorities.

Developed in collaboration with ICAO’s Capacity Development and Implementation unit, the initiative began in September 2024 with extensive stakeholder engagement and technical training, ensuring a comprehensive and inclusive planning process across the aviation ecosystem.

The Master Plan focuses on critical pillars including infrastructure modernization, adoption of advanced technologies such as unmanned aerial systems, and strict adherence to global safety and security standards to achieve a zero-fatality aviation environment.

It also envisions the transformation of Nigerian airports into aerotropolis hubs to boost economic growth, job creation, and connectivity.

Additionally, the plan emphasizes sustainability, innovation, and private sector participation, particularly in areas such as Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facilities and cargo development, while aligning Nigeria’s aviation growth with global environmental standards.

The presentation of the CAMP at the ICAO symposium highlights Nigeria’s commitment to international best practices and its rising profile in global aviation development.

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