Business

Oil Marketers and Dangote Battle in Court Over Import Licences

Published

2 years ago

November 7, 2024

534 Views

Three oil marketers, AYM Shafa Limited, A. A. Rano Limited, and Matrix Petroleum Services Limited, have asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a suit filed by Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals.

The marketers, in a joint counter affidavit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1324/2024, and dated November 5, 2024, a response to an originating summon filed by Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals, argued that granting the application of refinery would spell doom for the country’s oil sector.

They emphasised that the plan to monopolise the oil sector is a recipe for disaster in the country.

Dangote refinery in its originating summon dated September 6, 2024, had sued Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited, AYM Shafa Limited, A. A. Rano Limited, T. Time Petroleum Limited, 2015 Petroleum Limited, and Matrix Petroleum Services Limited as 1st to 7th defendants respectively.

The refinery prayed the court to declare that NMDPRA was in violation of Sections 317(8) and (9) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) by issuing licenses for the importation of petroleum products.

It stated that such licenses should only be issued in circumstances where there is a petroleum product shortfall.

It also urged the court to declare that NMDPRA is in violation of its statutory responsibilities under the PIA for not encouraging local refineries such as the company.

Shafa, A. A. Rano, and Matrix Petroleum, however, responded that Dangote refinery does not produce adequate petroleum products for the daily consumption of Nigerians.

They noted that the plaintiff had not placed anything before the court to prove the contrary.

They argued that they are well qualified and entitled to be issued an import licence by NMDPRA to import petroleum products.

They argued that they are well qualified and entitled to be issued an import licence by NMDPRA to import petroleum products in Nigeria within the meaning of Section 317(9) of the PIA.

They also noted that they are fully qualified for the issuance of the import licences issued to them by the 1st defendant, as they duly met all the legal requirements for the issuance of such import licences, before the same were issued to them.

“The import licences lawfully and validly issued to the defendants did not in any way whatsoever, cripple the plaintiff’s business or its refinery.

“The import licenses issued to the defendants by the 1st defendant are in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018, and other relevant laws,” they contended.

They insisted that giving Dangote Refinery the power of monopoly in Nigeria’s petroleum industry as it sought in the instant suit, would kill competitive pricing of petroleum products in the country.

Related Topics:Dangote Featured Oil importation Oil marketers

Up Next

Tuface Becomes Tinubu’s Brand Ambassador on MSMEs, Jobs Creation

Don't Miss

PETROAN Agrees to Buy PMS from Dangote, says it’s Patriotic

Click to comment

Business

NPA initiate trucks movement code to ease traffic at Lagos ports

The initiative is designed to ensure that each truck is matched exclusively to its designated empty container, eliminate multiple allocations, improve traffic management and enhance operational efficiency within the port corridor.

Published

2 days ago

July 30, 2026

OCHEFA

35 Views

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has introduced a movement code to streamline the movement of empty containers into seaport terminals and reduce traffic congestion caused by container trucks along the Apapa and Tin Can Island port corridors.

The Guardian reported that under the new policy, the movement code will serve as a unique identifier generated by a holding bay for every empty container uploaded to the Electronic Call-Up (ETO) platform.

The code must correspond with the details captured on the ETO system before trucks are granted access to port terminals.

In a notice issued to stakeholders, the NPA said the movement code has become a mandatory requirement for completing the truck-container matching process.

Truck drivers are required to obtain the code from designated holding bays before proceeding to the ports.

According to the authority, the initiative is designed to ensure that each truck is matched exclusively to its designated empty container, eliminate multiple allocations, improve traffic management and enhance operational efficiency within the port corridor.

Business

Okonjo-Iweala lauds Cardoso for stabilising Nigeria’s monetary environment

Okonjo-Iweala, gave the commendation on Thursday at the 7th Africa Emerging Markets Forum held in Abuja, with the theme: “Building Resilience Amidst Geo-economic Uncertainties.”

Published

2 days ago

July 30, 2026

OCHEFA

46 Views

The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has commended the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Olayemi Cardoso, for stabilising Nigeria’s monetary environment.

Okonjo-Iweala, gave the commendation on Thursday at the 7th Africa Emerging Markets Forum held in Abuja, with the theme: “Building Resilience Amidst Geo-economic Uncertainties.”

Speaking at the forum, Okonjo-Iweala commended Cardoso on the work that he and his team have done on currency and monetary policy stabilisation.

However, she emphasised that Nigeria must sustain broader macroeconomic reforms.

“Nigerians have to feel the dividends of reform in the real economy,” she added.

The forum brought together policymakers, business leaders and development partners to discuss strategies for strengthening Africa’s resilience amid growing global economic uncertainty.

Business

Naira Exchange Rates Thursday, July 30 : Black Market, CBN, Commercial Bank

Sterling Bank publishes both a buy rate and a sell rate for USD, GBP, EUR, and ZAR. The buy rate is what Sterling Bank will pay you when you exchange foreign currency for Naira. The sell rate is what you will pay when buying foreign currency from Sterling Bank at its branches.