THE Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mr. Mele Kyari, has challenged the President of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals Company, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, to come forward with proof of his involvement or any staff of company operating a blending plant in Malta.
This followed Dangote’s allegation that: “Some of the terminals, some of the NNPC people and some traders have opened a blending plant somewhere off Malta.”
But Kyari, in a statement on X handle, insisted that he neither owns or operates any business anywhere in the world, with the exception of a local mini agric venture, nor is he aware of any employee of the company who owns or operates a blending plant in Malta or anywhere else in the world.
He stated that Dangote’s claim has grave implications for national energy security and challenged him to disclose the identity of such individuals to relevant government security agencies for necessary actions.
According to the post: “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.
“To clarify the allegations regarding blending plant, 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.
“For further assurance, our compliance sanction grid shall apply to any NNPC employee who is established to be involved in doing so if availed and 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.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, met at a convened high-level meeting with key stakeholders in the oil and sector on Monday, July 22, in Abuja, to resolve the issues surrounding the Dangote Refinery.
The meeting was attended by Dangote; Chief Executive of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed; Chief Executive, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe and Kyari.
This followed a recent face-off involving Dangote Group, NMDPRA and NNPCL regarding product supply and quality.
Dangote had declared that the NNPCL no longer owns a 20, but 7.2 per cent stake in its refinery due to its failure to pay the balance of their shares, which was due in June this year.
But NNPCL explained that the decision regarding its equity participation at the paid-up sum was made and communicated to Dangote Refinery several months ago.
