Nigeria has imported fuel worth $2.25 billion from Malta over the past nine years, according to a recent report.
This revelation comes just days after Aliko Dangote, founder of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, accused some officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) of owning blending plants in Malta.
Sharp Increase in Fuel Imports
Data from Trade Map shows that Nigeria’s import of petroleum oils obtained from bituminous minerals surged dramatically in 2023. The country imported $2.8 billion worth of fuel in 2023, a 342% increase from $47.5 million in 2013. Over the years, Nigeria’s fuel imports from Malta fluctuated significantly:
- 2014: $59.98 million
- 2015: $117.01 million
- 2016: $13.32 million
No fuel was imported from Malta between 2017 and 2022. However, in 2023, the imports skyrocketed to $2.08 billion.
Dangote’s Accusations
Aliko Dangote has been vocal about his concerns regarding the NNPC.
Amid the challenges surrounding his $20 billion refinery, Dangote claimed, “Some of the terminals, some of the NNPC people, and some traders have opened blending plants somewhere off Malta. We all know these areas. We know what they are doing.”
These allegations have led many Nigerians to believe that Dangote might be correct in his assertions about NNPC officials’ involvement in blending plants in Malta.
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NNPC’s Response
Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, has firmly denied owning or being involved in any blending plant operations outside Nigeria. Kyari said he has received numerous inquiries from family and friends regarding Dangote’s allegations.
“To clarify the allegations regarding the blending plant, I do not own or operate any business directly or by proxy anywhere in the world except for 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,” Kyari stated.
Ongoing Controversy
Dangote’s comments came in response to allegations from Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority. Ahmed claimed that the diesel produced by the Dangote refinery had a higher sulphur content than imported diesel, which Dangote interpreted as an attempt to undermine his refinery.
Ahmed also suggested that the country would continue to import fuel to prevent a monopoly by the Dangote refinery.