Data released by Statisense on Thursday and fuel import data from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics have left enough to support that Aliko Dangote’s allegation that some officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL) have interests in refineries in Malta and favoring importation of refined oil products from the country.
According to the Statisense data, Nigeria’s petroleum products import from Malta increased by 342% in 2023 to $2.08 billion.
This is as the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) called for removal of NNPCL Group CEO, Mele Kyari.
Also, the Coalition of Northern Youth for Good Governance and other civil societies have called for the suspension of the CEO Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Dr. Ahmed Farouk, pending the outcome of the ongoing probe by the government.
Statisense and NBS data on fuel imports from Malta
Statisense disclosed on its X account outlining Nigeria’s petroleum imports in the last 10 years from 2013- 2023.
The data synchronized with that of Trade Map, a global database on International trade.
Further analysis of the data showed that from 2013-2016, Nigeria’s exports from the South European island of Malta stood at around $237.81 million.
However, from 2017-2022, Nigeria did not import any petrol products from Malta.
Meanwhile, most recently, in 2023 Nigeria’s import from Malta swelled to $2.08 billion, according to Statisense data. This represents 342% of the $47.5 million import recorded in 2013.
Nigeria’s imports from Malta stood at $2.25 billion in the same period, according to the United Nations Comtrade database on international trade.
Further insights from the National Bureau of Statistics data in the third Quarter of 2023 showed Malta was among the top five import destinations for Nigeria.
In Q3 alone, Nigeria’s import worth from Malta alone stood at N561.37 billion.
However, in Q1 and 2, Malta was not among the top five import destinations for Nigeria.
The data comes amid Chairman Dangote’s allegation on Monday that some officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and oil traders owe blending plants in Malta from where they import substandard products into Nigeria.
“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,” Dangote said.
Dangote lied — Kyari
Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, dismissed Dangote’s claim.He denied knowing of any blending plant in Malta, adding that he does not know of any employee of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited who owns a plant in Malta.
“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 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 said through his official X account on Tuesday.
Kyari must go — NANS
NANS on Wednesday, demanded the sacking of Kyari, for his “incompetence and ineptitude in handling the Dangote Refinery and obvious conflict of interest in the fuel racketeering scheme.”
The student body also demanded an immediate reduction in the price of petrol, threatening it would go on strike if the demands were not met by the Federal Government.
NANS made the demands at its 74th Senate sitting in Kano, where it also warned tertiary institutions against arbitrary increases in tuition fees on the back of the rollout of the student loan by the Federal Government.
In a Wednesday statement signed by its Senate President, Okunomo Adewumi, NANS said its 74th Senate sitting was convened to engage “in a thorough deliberation on the precarious state of our nation.”“We express our profound dismay and disillusionment with the current economic trajectory, which has precipitated unprecedented hardship and suffering for Nigerian citizens.
“We call on the government to immediately reduce the cost of petrol. Failure to comply will leave us no option but to mobilise and take to the streets in protest.
“We demand the immediate sack of the NNPC GCEO, Mr. Mele Kyari, for his incompetence and ineptitude in handling the Dangote refinery and obvious conflict of interest in their fuel racketeering scheme.
“We also demand that the CBN Governor takes immediate action to stabilise the naira-dollar exchange rate, bringing it down to a maximum of N600 per dollar within 30 days. Failure to comply will result in calls for his removal from office,” the student body said.
Suspend Farouk now – Civil societies
Calling for suspension of NMDPRA boss, Ahmed Farouk, Coalition of Northern Youth for Good Governance asserted that the Farouk ought to be suspended to allow for unbiased probe into the allegations against the regulatory body over the controversy between NNPCL and Aliko Dangote, and all the identified NNPC officials involved in the corruption cycle.
This was made known in a press conference in Kaduna State on Thursday, addressed by Jabir Aminu Maiturare of Coalition of Northern Youth for Good Governance, Abdulmalik Zakari; Zero Tolerance for Corruption Association (ZTCA), Ahmed Ayo Ibrahim of Concerned Youths of Nigeria (CYN); Isaac Abioye of Arewa Youth for Liberty (AYFL) and Mukhtar Umar Adamu of Northern Youth Advocacy for Good Governance (NYAGG).
“We urge the President to suspend the NMDPRA CEO pending a probe into the allegations against the regulatory body.
“To salvage the image, reputation, and integrity of the country, all identified NNPC officials involved in this corruption must be punished. Any NNPC official who owns or operates a blending plant in Malta or elsewhere should be brought to book.”
