Is NNPC Importing Poor Products with Fake Certificates From a Plant in Malta?

Aliko Dangote, one of Africa’s wealthiest and most influential industrialists, has brought to light serious allegations against the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). 

According to Dangote, the NNPC is involved in importing substandard fuel products with fake certificates from a plant in Malta. 

This accusation doesn’t just question the integrity of the NNPC but also raises alarming concerns about the quality of petrol Nigerians are using every day.

Unpacking the allegations

During a public speech, which was broadcast widely, including on Channels TV, Dangote did not hold back. 

He detailed how NNPC operatives and some traders have supposedly set up a refinery operation in Malta, a location now central to these serious accusations. From here, they allegedly ship inferior-quality fuel to Nigeria, complete with fraudulent certifications to mask the poor standard of the product.

“The fuel quality we produce locally, even at 650,000 to 700,000 barrels per day, surpasses what’s being imported,” Dangote asserted. He passionately encouraged the public to test the fuel themselves: “Go to any filling station; you can pick it up, check the quality. That is the only way. But all these one somebody will bring in the ship, bring in fake certificates.”

Dangote’s fearless stance

Dangote’s speech wasn’t just a business critique—it was a warrior’s stance against corruption. “I have been fighting all my life. I am very fearless. I believe so much in God and I don’t fear anybody. They can do whatever they want. I am not scared, I will fight head-on,” he proclaimed, reflecting his readiness to tackle this issue no matter the opposition.

How the government responded

In the wake of these accusations, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, chaired a significant meeting addressing the challenges faced by the Dangote Refinery in Lagos, recognized as a pivotal project in Nigeria’s oil sector. 

The meeting was attended by prominent figures including Dangote himself and heads of various petroleum regulatory bodies.

A statement from the minister’s office praised Lokpobiri’s leadership and acknowledged the necessity of the meeting to foster dialogue and resolve these critical issues. 

Meanwhile, earlier reports from SaharaReporters highlighted calls from the House of Representatives urging key stakeholders, like NMDPRA and Dangote, to avoid escalating tensions through the media.

The main question is what lies ahead.