Via Gabi Hibbatullah, Abuja
A bunch, Power Watchdog, has sponsored Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals’ determination to hunt go away to enchantment a Federal Top Court docket judgment directing the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to proceed issuing petroleum product import licences to a few primary oil entrepreneurs.
In a observation signed by means of Engr. Martins Tayo, the crowd described the transfer as essential to give protection to Nigeria’s home refining trade and cut back dependence on imported petroleum merchandise.
The judgment, delivered on September 28, 2026, by means of Justice Inyang Ekwo in Swimsuit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1363/2026, ordered the NMDPRA to proceed issuing import licences to Matrix Power, AA Rano and AYM Shafa.
However, Power Watchdog argued that the ruling undermined the targets of the Petroleum Trade Act (PIA) and threatened investments in home refining capability.
“We totally reject and condemn in totality the judgment of the decrease courtroom. This is a deeply wrong determination that disregards the transparent intent of the Petroleum Trade Act and the nationwide pastime in construction a strong home refining trade,” the observation by means of Engr Martins Tayo declared.
The crowd additional cited a reported decline in petrol imports within the first quarter of 2026, along higher provides from native refineries, in particular the Dangote facility, as proof of the rustic’s rising home refining capability.
It argued that maintaining import licences regardless of emerging native manufacturing may just undermine efforts to reach self-sufficiency in delicate petroleum merchandise and weaken investor self belief within the sector.
In line with the organisation, Dangote Refinery’s determination to hunt go away to enchantment as an birthday celebration was once well timed, given the possible implications of the judgment for the way forward for Nigeria’s downstream petroleum trade.
“The decrease courtroom’s determination quantities to a judicial endorsement of persevered importation without reference to native capability.
“We condemn it with out reservation as it threatens to opposite the hard-won beneficial properties of the previous few years,” Engr Tayo mentioned.
The Power Watchdog maintained that the Petroleum Trade Act was once designed to inspire funding in midstream and downstream infrastructure, caution that permitting the ruling to face may just ship a damaging sign to traders who’ve dedicated considerable assets to home refining initiatives.
The crowd suggested the Court docket of Enchantment to grant Dangote Refinery go away to enchantment and in the end put aside the Federal Top Court docket’s order, describing the case as important to Nigeria’s power safety and the improvement of its refining trade.
“Any judgment that forces the ongoing importation of gas merchandise when native refineries can provide the marketplace is a setback for Nigeria.
“We condemn the decrease courtroom ruling within the most powerful phrases and entirely improve the enchantment filed by means of Dangote Refinery,” the observation mentioned.
“The Court docket of Enchantment will have to right kind this mistake and reaffirm that the generation of computerized import licences is over”, the observation added.
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