Nigeria’s oil and gas sector has witnessed a new twist as the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) officially stepped down from its legal battle against Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE. The Commission announced the withdrawal of its appeal at the Court of Appeal in Abuja after confirming that the refinery itself had ended its ₦100 billion import license lawsuit at the Federal High Court.
The appeal, originally filed against Dangote Refinery, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), NNPC Limited, and a group of major oil dealers including Matrix Petroleum and A.A. Rano, was quietly dropped on August 26, 2025. Court filings signed by FCCPC’s counsel Olanrewaju Osinaike stated that there was no further basis for the appeal since the primary suit was already discontinued.
During the resumed hearing in Abuja, all parties were represented, and no objections were raised to FCCPC’s decision. The Appeal Court panel, after listening to submissions, accepted the withdrawal and dismissed the matter entirely.
Speaking to industry analysts, legal expert Barrister Oladipupo Ige explained that if Dangote Refinery had gone ahead with its claim, it might have reshaped the fuel import market by limiting the number of competitors. This, he said, could have allowed the refinery to dominate pricing and supply. However, with both Dangote Refinery and FCCPC abandoning their cases, Ige described the outcome as “a victory for open competition and consumer protection.”
Observers say the development sends a positive signal that Nigeria’s petroleum industry remains open to multiple players. It also underscores FCCPC’s role as a watchdog ensuring that no single operator corners the market to the detriment of consumers and smaller businesses.
