The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has denied claims by billionaire businessman, Aliko Dangote, that the oil firm owns a blending plant in Malta.
Speaking for the company, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Engr. Mele Kyari, noted that he does not own any blending plant in Malta or anywhere in the world and is not aware of any NNPC staff who owns or operates any blending plant anywhere in the world.
News About Nigeria reports that Kyari said this following claims made by Dangote that NNPCL officials were operating an oil facility on the Mediterranean Island.
While addressing the House of Representatives on Monday, Dangote noted that apart from NNPC personnel, oil traders and terminals have established a blending plant in Malta.
In response to this claim, the NNPCL boss in a post on his X account wrote,
“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 the 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 who 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.”
