The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced plans to withdraw a lawsuit against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and oil marketers. This clarification follows reports suggesting the company filed legal action to halt fuel importation.
In a statement released on Monday by the Group’s Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, the refinery emphasized that the case is not recent. It originated in June 2024 and was officially filed on September 6, 2024. However, developments, including the Federal Government’s directive on selling crude oil and refined products in naira, have made the lawsuit obsolete.
“This is an old issue… Events have overtaken this development,” Chiejina explained, referring to ongoing discussions among the involved parties. These talks follow President Bola Tinubu’s directive, which was approved by the Federal Executive Council, encouraging transactions in local currency for crude oil and refined products.
The statement further clarified that the court proceedings have not affected any party, as no court orders have been issued, nor have any parties been served legal documents. “We have agreed to put a halt to the proceedings,” Chiejina said, adding that the formal withdrawal of the lawsuit will take place in January 2025.
The refinery reiterated its commitment to the discussions currently underway, assuring the public that there are no adverse consequences from the legal filing. Once the matter is listed in court next year, the withdrawal process will officially commence.
