Dangote’s Half-Brother Sayyu Dantata Exposed as Top Fuel Importer from Malta 

In a recent document, the role of MRS Oil & Gas Co. Limited, a firm led by Sayyu Dantata, Aliko Dangote’s half-brother, in importing fuel from Malta. This news surfaces amidst growing concerns about fuel quality and supply dynamics in Nigeria.

Sayyu Dantata, who helms MRS Holdings Ltd, previously known as Chevron Texaco, has been confirmed through leaked documents to be importing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, from Malta. 

This revelation aligns with similar findings involving other Nigerian energy firms and adds a layer of familial intrigue given Dantata’s connection to Aliko Dangote, one of Africa’s wealthiest individuals.

The backdrop to this revelation is a recent accusation by Aliko Dangote, who claimed that certain Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) officials were undermining his refinery’s production by importing inferior petrol from a refinery in Malta. 

Dangote emphasized that the fuel quality from his refinery was superior and that the imported fuel was likely causing vehicle damage.

Documents dated March 4, 2024, from MRS Oil & Gas detail transactions involving the shipment of gasoline. A letter from Moyosola Kuku, General Manager of Risk Management at MRS, to the NNPCL Managing Director, included shipping and cargo documents for delivery in February 2024.

These documents meticulously list the insurance, supplier letters, bills of lading, quality certificates, and more, corroborating the import activity.

Further intensifying scrutiny, another letter from Kuku to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority confirmed MRS’s purchase of a substantial quantity of unleaded gasoline from OPL Malta. This gasoline was then sold to the NNPC, indicating a structured trade involving significant volumes of fuel.

This situation raises questions about the integrity and oversight of Nigeria’s fuel imports, especially in light of Dangote’s allegations of sabotage. The substantial increase in petroleum imports from Malta, peaking at $2.8 billion in 2023 after years of negligible or no imports, suggests a strategic shift in sourcing that merits closer examination.

Moreover, the broader context includes accusations against Matrix Energy for importing substandard diesel with dangerously high sulphur levels, as revealed during a legislative visit to the Dangote Refinery. These developments suggest systemic issues in Nigeria’s fuel quality control and regulatory oversight.