Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the founder of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, recently made a shocking allegation that some officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) have blending plants in Malta. This claim has sparked controversy and raised questions about the country’s fuel importation practices.
According to data from Trade Map, Nigeria imported a staggering $2.25 billion worth of fuel from Malta over the past nine years. This figure represents a significant increase from $47.5 million in 2013 to $2.8 billion in 2023, marking a 342% jump.
A closer look at the data reveals that fuel imports from Malta were inconsistent over the years. Nigeria imported fuel worth $59.98 million in 2014, $117.01 million in 2015, and $13.32 million in 2016. However, there was a noticeable gap in imports from 2017 to 2022, with no fuel imports recorded during this period.
But in 2023, Nigeria saw a geometric leap in fuel imports from Malta, with a total value of $2.08 billion. This sudden increase has raised eyebrows and fueled speculation about the involvement of NNPC officials in the fuel importation business.
Dangote’s allegations have sparked a heated debate, with some Nigerians believing that he may be right about NNPC personnel owning blending plants in Malta. The business magnate had claimed that some NNPC officials and traders have opened blending plants in Malta, which could be contributing to the country’s reliance on fuel imports.
However, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPC, Mele Kyari, has vehemently denied owning a blending plant outside Nigeria. Kyari stated that he has been inundated with calls from family members and friends asking if he truly owns a blending plant in Malta. He clarified that he does not own or operate any business directly or by proxy anywhere in the world, except for a local mini-agric venture.
Kyari also denied knowledge of any NNPC employee owning or operating a blending plant in Malta or anywhere else in the world. His response aims to address the allegations and reassure the public about the NNPC’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
The controversy surrounding fuel importation and the alleged involvement of NNPC officials has come at a time when Dangote’s $20 billion refinery is facing scrutiny. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority had claimed that the diesel produced by the Dangote refinery had higher sulphur content than imported ones, a claim Dangote has dismissed as an attempt to demarket his refinery. As the debate continues, Nigerians await clarification and transparency from the NNPC and other stakeholders involved in the fuel importation business.
