A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered Nigeria’s downstream petroleum regulator to continue issuing fuel import licences and related permits to Matrix Energy, AA Rano and AYM Shafa. Court documents reported on Monday, 28 September 2026, said refusing the licences would conflict with the Petroleum Industry Act.
The three oil marketing firms filed the case in June 2026, challenging the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority’s handling of their licences. They told the court they had invested more than US$20 billion in fuel distribution infrastructure, logistics and retail networks across Nigeria.