Kyari challenges Dangote to prove Malta blending plant claims, says allegations threat to national security

Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, has challenged the President of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals Company, Aliko Dangote to provide evidence of his involvement or any member of staff of the national oil company operating a blending plant in Malta.

Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, had alleged that officials of the NNPC, oil traders and terminals operate an oil facility in Malta.

An oil blending plant has no refining capability but can be used to blend re-refined oil (a used motor oil that has been treated to remove dirt, fuel, and water) with additives to create finished lubricant products.

But in a post on X, formerly twitter, on Tuesday, Kyari vehemently denied the allegations, stressing that he is not aware of any NNPC employee that operates such a plant in the aforementioned country or anywhere else in the world.

Kyari clarified that he does not own or operate any business directly or by proxy anywhere in the world with the exception of a local mini agric venture.

He said the claim by Dangote 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.

The post reads, “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, 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.”