Nigeria’s House of Representatives has launched an investigation into a deepening dispute between the fuel regulator and Dangote Refinery, lawmakers said Tuesday. The probe centres on allegations that fuel import licences and petrol pricing benchmarks were applied arbitrarily by the downstream petroleum regulator.
Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has intensified his clash with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority over fuel import practices. Dangote claims the regulator permits cheap fuel imports that undercut domestic refiners, including his 650,000-barrel-per-day Lagos refinery, Africa’s largest.
He has called for a formal inquiry into NMDPRA chief Farouk Ahmed, citing governance failures and alleged spending beyond declared income. Lawmakers warned the standoff risks a fuel supply squeeze during the holiday season, threatening energy security and investor confidence nationwide.
A motion sponsored by lawmaker Francis Waive directs parliamentary petroleum committees to mediate the dispute and report within four weeks. Members described the Dangote refinery as a strategic national asset capable of ending fuel imports and earning vital foreign exchange.
They cautioned that prolonged regulatory conflict could disrupt supplies, fuel price volatility, and deepen policy uncertainty across the energy sector. Parliament did not immediately announce hearing dates, leaving the industry watching closely as political pressure and economic stakes continue to rise.