Following Alhaji Aliko Dangote’s allegations that Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC, officials own blending plants in Malta, new information has resurfaced indicating that Nigeria imported fuel worth$2.25 billion from Malta over nine years.
According to Trade Map data, Nigeria imported $2.8 billion worth of petroleum oils from Malta in 2023, the imports for 2014, 2015 and 2016 were $59.98 million, $117.01 million and $13.32 million respectively. Notably, there were no fuel imports from Malta between 2017 and 2022, but in 2023 imports soared to $2.8 billion.
This sudden spike in imports has led some Nigerians to support Dangote’s claim about NNPC personnel owning blending plants in Malta. Amid the controversy surrounding his $20 billion refinery, Dangote stated: “Some NNPC people and traders have opened blending plants off Malta. We know this areas and what they are doing.”
In response, NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer, Melee Kyari, denied owning any blending plants abroad. He clarified that he does not operate any business directly or by proxy outside Nigeria except for a local agricultural venture. He also stated that he is unaware of any NNPC employee owning or operating any blending plant in Malta or anywhere else.
Dangote has been vocal amid allegations from Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive of the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, who claimed the diesel from Dangote Refinery had higher sulfur content than imported fuel. Ahmed also mentioned that fuel imports will continue to prevent a Dangote monopoly, a statement Dangote has criticized as an attempt to undermine his refinery.
Culled from tdpnews