The Dangote Refinery has refuted reports claiming it approached a court to halt the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and others from continuing fuel importation.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief Branding and Communication Officer of Dangote Industries Limited, the company clarified that the report pertains to an old issue dating back to June 2024, which led to the filing of a case on September 6, 2024.
The refinery explained that following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for the Crude Oil for Naira Initiative, subsequent developments have overtaken the legal matter.
The initiative, approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), has opened discussions between the parties involved.
“Currently, the parties are in discussion since the President Bola Tinubu’s directive on Crude Oil and Refined products sales in Naira Initiative, which was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). We have made tremendous progress in that regard, and events have overtaken this development,” the statement read.
Dangote Refinery further clarified that it has not served any party with court documents and has no intention of doing so.
The company expressed its willingness to withdraw the case when it is scheduled to come up in January 2025.
“We have agreed to put a halt to the proceedings,” the statement continued. “It is important to stress that no orders have been made, and there are no adverse effects on any party. We understand that once the matter comes up in January 2025, we would be in a position to formally withdraw the matter in court.”