Nigeria, Sept. 28 -- The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to continue issuing and renewing petroleum products import licences to three major oil marketers, ruling that the regulator's refusal to do so violates the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

Justice Inyang Ekwo delivered the judgement on Monday. The judge reportedly ruled that the authority's refusal to grant or renew import licences for Matrix Energy, AA Rano and AYM Shafa was in "direct non-compliance" with the PIA, Nairametrics reported.

It said the judge specifically directed the regulator to continue granting, issuing, extending, renewing or reissuing licences, permits and authorisations for mids...