NNPC Replies Dangote Over Allegations of Establishing Blending Plant in Malta
Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), addresses recent allegations made by Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, regarding the establishment of a blending plant by NNPC employees in Malta.
“I am inundated by enquiries from family members, friends, and associates on the public declaration by the President of Dangote Group that some NNPC workers have established a blending plant in Malta, thereby impeding procurements from local production of petroleum products,” stated Kyari.
To clarify these allegations, Kyari affirmed: “I do not own or operate any business directly or by proxy anywhere in the world, with the exception of a local mini Agric venture. Neither am I aware of any employee of the NNPC that owns or operates a blending plant in Malta or anywhere else in the world. A blending plant in Malta or any part of the world has no influence over NNPC’s business operations and strategic actions.”
Kyari further emphasized the corporation’s commitment to transparency and accountability: “For further assurance, our compliance sanction grid shall apply to any NNPC employee who is established to be involved in such activities, if availed. I strongly recommend that such individuals be declared public and be made known to relevant government security agencies for necessary actions, in view of the grave implications for national energy security.”
Aliko Dangote, Nigerian billionaire businessman and industrialist, recently accused certain individuals within the NNPC of importing substandard petrol products into the country. In a public speech aired by Channels TV, Dangote asserted that an NNPC cabal created a petroleum refinery in Malta, from where they import inferior fuel into Nigeria. He noted: “Even at 650,000 bpm and 700,000 bpm that we are producing, it was a better quality than what was imported. And I am sure most of you will have problems with your vehicle because of the bad fuel that was imported into the country. I still stand by what I said. Go to filling stations, you can pick it up and check the quality. That is the only way. But all these ones where somebody will bring in a ship, bring in fake certificates. Some NNPC people, some traders have opened a blending plant somewhere in Malta. We all know these areas, we know what they are doing.”
NNPC reiterates its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and transparency in all its operations, and will continue to cooperate fully with any investigations by relevant authorities to ensure the sanctity of Nigeria’s energy sector.
