Dangote Petroleum Refinery has clarified the situation regarding a reported lawsuit against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, confirming that the case is not new and has been in progress since June 2024. The lawsuit is expected to be withdrawn in January 2025, following ongoing discussions.
Anthony Chiejina, the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer at Dangote Refinery, explained that the issue first arose in June, and the legal matter was formally filed on September 6, 2024. He emphasized that the situation is being resolved through negotiations, which were initiated after President Bola Tinubu's directive on the Crude Oil and Refined Products Sales in Naira Initiative. This directive was recently approved by the Federal Executive Council, and it aims to address concerns surrounding the sale of petroleum products within the country.
Chiejina also noted that no legal proceedings have begun in court as no party has been formally served with court documents. "No party has been served with court processes, and there is no intention of doing so. We have agreed to put a halt to the proceedings," Chiejina said on Monday. He stressed that both parties have agreed to pause the legal action, and no orders have been issued that would impact any of the involved entities.
The root of the dispute stems from import licenses that were issued to NNPC and other oil marketers for refined petroleum products. These products had already been produced by Dangote Refinery, leading to the legal confrontation. However, with Nigeria's recent policy change to begin selling crude oil and refined products in naira, the company believes that substantial progress has been made, effectively making the lawsuit irrelevant.
Dangote Refinery has reiterated that the ongoing discussions are moving forward positively, and the company expects a resolution without any further legal complications. The case is on track to be withdrawn in early 2025, in alignment with the current agreements and negotiations between the parties involved.