The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to continue issuing petroleum product import licences to three major oil marketing companies—Matrix Energy, AA Rano and AYM Shafa—in accordance with existing laws.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, who delivered the judgment, ruled that the NMDPRA’s refusal to grant import licences to the three companies amounted to a direct violation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
The companies, through their lawyers, Raji Ahmed, SAN, and Chris Ekemezie, had asked the court, among other reliefs, to declare that the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 neither prohibits nor bans the importation of petroleum products into Nigeria.
They also sought a declaration that the law does not prevent the NMDPRA from granting or renewing import licences for qualified companies seeking to bring petroleum products into the country.
