Court Orders NMDPRA to Keep Issuing Fuel Import Licences: What the Ruling Means for Your Business

The Ruling in Brief

On 28 September 2026, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ruled in a suit filed by three major oil marketers (Matrix Energy, AA Rano and AYM Shafa) against the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

The court directed the regulator to continually grant, issue, extend, renew or reissue petroleum products import licences to the three companies, provided they meet the regulatory requirements. It also declared that the authority’s refusal to issue the licences was a direct breach of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.

According to the marketers, the regulator had granted licences only sporadically since July 2025. The three companies say they have together invested more than $20 billion in import terminals, storage and retail networks. Irregular licensing puts those assets at risk of sitting idle.

The Wider Context: Imports, Dangote and Supply Security

The ruling comes during a long-running dispute over whether Nigeria should still import petrol now that the 650,000 barrels-per-day Dangote Petroleum Refinery is operating. Dangote argues that import licences should be issued only when domestic supply is insufficient. It says continued imports undermine local refining and push it to export surplus products.

The regulator’s position has been that imports are still needed to avoid supply gaps. On 18 September 2026, before this judgment, NMDPRA approved about 830,000 metric tonnes of petrol imports for the fourth quarter. The six approved companies were Matrix Energy, AA Rano, AYM Shafa, NIPCO, Pinnacle Oil and Bono Energy, the same group licensed for Q3.

NMDPRA data for July 2026 show that domestic output (25.8 million litres per day) and imports (19.7 million litres per day) were both large parts of national supply. Dangote’s separate suit challenging the import permits is scheduled for hearing on 7 October 2026, so the legal position may change again.

Where Petrol Prices Stand

Prices have been volatile in September. Brent crude traded above $100 per barrel, which prompted Dangote to raise its gantry price, and a later cut followed signs of easing global prices.

Retailers have typically sold at up to ₦59 per litre above depot prices, reflecting transport, storage and station costs. Any change in how many suppliers can bring in product therefore affects what SMEs pay at the pump.

What This Means for SMEs

For most small and medium-sized businesses in Nigeria, fuel is not a minor cost. It powers generators, runs delivery vans and keeps production lines working when grid supply fails. The ruling matters in three practical ways:

• More supply sources can support price stability. When several importers compete alongside the local refinery, a single supplier is less able to set prices on its own, and supply is less exposed to a refinery shutdown or maintenance.
• Supply is more secure during the festive season. Q4 usually brings higher demand and logistics pressure. Import licences continuing to flow lowers the risk of scarcity and queues in November and December.
• Policy uncertainty has not ended. The judgment may be appealed, and the Dangote case returns to court on 7 October. Businesses should expect further twists and plan for price swings rather than assuming stable fuel costs.

The Bottom Line

This judgment supports the principle that licensing under the PIA should follow clear rules and not be applied at the regulator’s discretion. That principle matters to every regulated business, not only oil marketers. For SMEs, the immediate effect is likely to be steadier supply into the end of the year. The longer-term question of how Nigeria balances local refining with import competition is still unresolved. Businesses that plan for price volatility and cut their fuel dependence will be better placed whichever way it is decided.