Mele Kyari, the group chief executive officer (GCEO) of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, has challenged billionaire businessman, Aliko Dangote, to reveal the identities of NNPC workers accused of establishing a blending plant in Malta.
In a statement he issued via his social media platforms, Kyari maintained that he does not own a blending plant in Malta nor did he know any of his colleagues doing so.
SaharaReporters had reported how Aliko Dangote accused some people in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) of importing fake petrol products into the country.
Dangote had said the NNPC cabals created a petroleum refinery in Malta from where they import inferior fuel into Nigeria.
Kyari, in his response, said, “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 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.”
SaharaReporters had reported that Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, chaired a high-level meeting on Monday over the challenges facing the Dangote Refinery, Lagos, which the government believes, is a critical project in the oil sector.
A statement had said the meeting was attended by Mr. Aliko Dangote, Chairman and CEO of Dangote Group; Mr. Farouk Ahmed, Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
Other are “Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and Mr. Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).”
According to the statement, the stakeholders expressed their gratitude to the Honourable Minister for his exemplary leadership and timely intervention in facilitating this crucial dialogue.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the House of Representatives called on the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote, and oil marketers to refrain from making public accusations against each other, using the media.
SaharaReporters had recently reported how NMDPRA Chief Executive, Farouk Ahmed highlighted concerns over the consistency and standardisation of the output of Aliko Dangote’s refinery.
The NMDPRA boss had said the quality of Dangote Refinery products was inferior compared to imported ones.
