Nigeria’s Fuel Imports From Malta Hit $2.25 Billion Amid Allegations Of NNPC Involvement

Recent data shows that Nigeria has imported $2.25 billion worth of fuel from Malta over the past nine years.

Naija News reports that this revelation comes amidst allegations by Alhaji Aliko Dangote, founder of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, who claimed that some officials from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) own blending plants in Malta.

Blending plants, which lack refining capabilities, are used to mix re-refined oil with additives to produce finished lubricant products.

According to Trade Map data, Nigeria imported $2.8 billion worth of petroleum oils from bituminous minerals in 2023, marking a 342% increase from $47.5 million in 2013.

Fuel imports from Malta were valued at $59.98 million in 2014, $117.01 million in 2015, and $13.32 million in 2016. Between 2017 and 2022, Nigeria did not import fuel from Malta.

However, in 2023, there was a significant increase, with imports valued at $2.08 billion. This marks a dramatic rise in the value of Nigeria’s fuel imports from Malta, which increased 43 times over ten years, from $47.5 million in 2013 to $2.08 billion in 2023.

Amidst the ongoing issues with his $20 billion refinery, Dangote stated, “Some of the NNPC people and some traders have opened a blending plant somewhere off Malta. We all know these areas. We know what they are doing.”

In response, NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, denied owning any blending plant, except for a local mini agriculture venture, and stated he was unaware of any NNPC employee involved in such activities.

Kyari asserted that the blending plant in Malta or elsewhere does not impact NNPC’s business operations and strategic decisions. He promised sanctions against any NNPC staff member found to be involved.

Dangote has been vocal following claims by Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, that the diesel produced by the Dangote refinery contained higher sulfur content than imported products.

Dangote described this as an attempt to undermine his refinery, while Ahmed stated that the country would continue to import fuel to prevent Dangote from holding a monopoly.