The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari, has categorically denied owning a blending plant in Malta.
Kyari’s statement was made on Tuesday in response to allegations by Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest person, who claimed that officials of the NNPC operate an oil facility in Malta, a small island nation situated in the central Mediterranean Sea.
His denial followed Dangote’s assertion on questions about potential conflicts of interest and unethical business practices involving NNPC officials.
By refuting the claims, Kyari aims to clear his name and maintain the integrity of the NNPC Limited, a state-owned oil company responsible for managing Nigeria’s oil resources.
The statement read, “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.”
