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REVEALED: Vessels Allegedly linked to Dangote’s brother to deliver imported fuel from Malta amid billionaire’s row with NNPC
REVEALED: Vessels Allegedly linked to Dangote’s brother to deliver imported fuel from Malta amid billionaire’s row with NNPC
Sahara Weekly Reports That Two Lagos-bound vessels linked to family members and friends of Dangote Refinery CEO Aliko Dangote are on course to deliver cargoes of imported premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, from Malta, POLITICS NIGERIA can authoritatively report after reviewing a cache of documents including maritime tracking details.
This development comes weeks after Dangote’s shocking now-debunked allegations blaming others about the importation of low-quality fuel from the European country. The billionaire, who had earlier accused Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) of sabotaging his refinery, said that some NNPCL officials were importing substandard petrol products into the country from a blending facility in Malta. This claim was later proven to be false.
Although NNPCL officially refuted and debunked Dangote’s claims saying that neither NNPCL nor its officials owned a blending, publicly available data however showed that Nigeria’s petroleum imports from Malta went as high as $2.8 billion last year. One of the local energy companies, Matrix Energy, was allegedly claimed as one of the firms importing substandard petroleum products from Malta by Businessday Nigeria – a claim the company has rebuffed with evidence and instituted a N10billion defamation suit against Businessday and another newspaper for alleging its products were substandard and didn’t meet regulatory threshold. As at the time of filing this report, the case is currently in court.
North and South
However, fresh evidence has also shown that Dangote’s family members and circle of friends in the petroleum sector might be among the top importers of PMS from Malta. Credible maritime data corroborated by industry experts showed that at least two other cargoes connected to his family member and an associate are expected to arrive on the shores of Nigeria on September 7.
One of the vessels ferrying the cargo, Meronas, belongs to MRS Oil & Gas Company, a subsidiary of MRS Holdings Limited owned by Dangote’s half-brother Sayyu Dantata.
The vessel, currently sailing under the flag of Greece, departed Malta on August 22 and is scheduled to arrive Lagos on September 7, according to AIS data provided on vessel tracking website, Vessel Finder.
Another Oil tanker vessel from Malta, Clean Justice will be delivering a cargo of PMS to Eyrie Energy, an Abuja-based company founded by a board director at MRS, Amina Maina.
Maina, according to MRS Group’s website, oversees all trading, supply, and operations of the group’s activities spanning over six countries, including Nigeria. Apart from her role at MRS, is also a close associate of Mr Dangote. In fact, both Maina and Dangote were part of the Economic Coordination Council (PECC) set up by President Bola Tinubu at the start of his administration.
Both MRS and Eyrie Energy are part of a network of local and international energy companies supplying PMS to NNPC while it has been widely revealed that officials of MRS are currently representing and leading negotiations with the Ministry of Finance on behalf of Dangote Refinery in the Federal Government’s Crude for Naira programme.
According to a March 4th letter, the General Manager of Risk Management, MRS, wrote to the NNPCL managing director, submitting shipping documents for a petroleum product delivery from Malta OPL.
The letter also referenced attached original documents including a letter from supplier; bill of loading; certificate of quantity; certificate of quality before loading; certificate of quality after loading; master receipt; notice of readiness load port; vessel survey report before and after loading; ullage report before and after loading; bunker survey report (fuel oil & diesel oil); cargo pumping log; time log and VEF.
While it is not immediately clear if Dangote is aware of his half-brother company’s involvement in Malta importation, an industry source told POLITICS NIGERIA that it is ‘hypocritical’ for the billionaire to “shield his own” while pretending to expose others.
“Dangote knows that refiners margin is currently low and he won’t be able to sell and compete with other suppliers to NNPCL, he needs to control who sells to NNPC and also control the price they sell to NNPC.
Another Industry Expert, Dr. James Oyekunle, speaking on the development, wondered if there was more to this entire issue as he observed that there could be a political undertone.
“It is difficult to ignore as most of the companies targeted have mostly been owned or operated by southerners or affiliated with international companies whilst key marketers from the north seem to be missing from these negative attacks.”
How Malta became Nigeria’s favourite import destination
Little have been reported about Nigeria’s import from Malta until Dangote’s revelation. This perhaps could be as a result of the measly amounts recorded in past years. For instance the value of imports from Malta stood at $13.32 million in 2016, which is significantly low when compared with $2.8 billion recorded in 2023. This however changed after a 2020 Cash for Crude deal which international oil trading company, Vitol, and indigenous marketer, Matrix Enegry, provided Nigeria with a badly needed cash advance in return for Nigerian crude to be refined and blended elsewhere and imported into Nigeria as PMS. Malta was one of their chosen blending destination amongst others.
In 2023, two foreign oil companies, LITASCO and Pontus SA wrote to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), seeking approval of Malta as one of the load port locations that imports can originate from.
Sources familiar with the moves told POLITICS NIGERIA that as part of its newly defined regulatory responsibilities under Nigeria’s recently signed Petroleum Industry Act, the NMDPRA sent its staff to visit and inspect the blending plants and an approval was issued by the regulator afterwards.
“PMS used in Nigeria can’t be produced straight from refineries but rather blended to meet Nigeria grade, even at the refineries, they blend in their tanks to meet these specifications which are standard globally. Even all fuel coming from Amsterdam, Antwerp, Rotterdam, fujairah are all blended to achieve the required grade and specifications of PMS,” said an industry source.
“Given the recent revelations, accusations both true and false, and counter-accusations, it is important for all parties to approach the ongoing fuel importation and refinery discussions with openness and responsibility.”
“Dangote’s concerns about the integrity of fuel imports from Malta though now debunked, coupled with the involvement of his close associates and family members in similar operations, casts an uncanny light on the cutthroat operations of the oil industry.”
“As more information comes to light, it is important for industry regulators and authorities to ensure that accountability is upheld without bias and consumers are protected, regardless of one’s standing or connections.”, he said.
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Director General NSC, Bar. Bukola Olopade Extends Christmas Greetings to Christians in Abeokuta South and Across Nigeria
Director General NSC, Bar. Bukola Olopade Extends Christmas Greetings to Christians in Abeokuta South and Across Nigeria
By Solanke Ayomideji Taiwo
In a heartfelt message, The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Honourable Bukola Olopade, has extended warm festive greetings to Christians in Abeokuta South, Ogun State, and across Nigeria as the nation embarks on the joyous celebration of Christmas.
Recognizing the significance of this time of year, Olopade emphasized the essence of unity, love, and gratitude that the Christmas season embodies. He urged citizens to reflect on the virtues of compassion and generosity, which are particularly vital in fostering peace and harmony in communities.
“Christmas is a time for joy, reflection, and togetherness. It reminds us of the values of love and kindness, which are fundamental to our social fabric,” said Olopade. “As we celebrate this festive season, let us remember those in need and extend a hand of support to one another.”
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Honourable Bukola Olopade, acknowledged the challenges that many have faced over the past year, including economic hardships and social unrest, yet he expressed optimism for the future. “In the spirit of Christmas, let us embrace hope and look forward to a brighter tomorrow. Our unity and resilience can overcome any challenges we face.”
Olopade also highlighted the importance of sports in promoting peace and national unity, noting that the NSC is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all Nigerians can participate in sports and recreational activities. He encouraged communities to engage in sports events during the festive period as a means to strengthen bonds and celebrate togetherness.
As part of his Christmas message, Olopade called on everyone to prioritize the welfare of others, particularly the less fortunate. He urged individuals and organizations to consider charitable acts that can uplift those in need during this season of giving.
In closing, Bar. Bukola Olopade wished all Nigerians a Merry Christmas filled with love, peace, and joy. He expressed hope that the spirit of the season would inspire a renewed commitment to community service and cooperation among citizens.
As the festivities continue, the Chairman’s message resonates with the values of compassion, unity, and hope, encouraging all to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.
Dangote Hails Tinubu on Impact of Crude for Naira Swap Deal
…As Dangote Refinery partners MRS to sell PMS at N935 per litre nationwide at its retail outlets
Sahara Weekly Unveils That The Foremost entrepreneur and President of the Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the positive impact of the naira for crude swap deal on the Nigerian economy, which has led to reduction in prices of petroleum products in the country.
To provide succour to Nigerians, Dangote recently reduced the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from N970 to N899.50 at its Refinery loading gantry and provided generous credit terms to marketers.
“To ensure that this price reduction gets to the end consumer, we have signed a partnership with MRS to sell petrol from its retail outlets nationwide at N935 per litre” he added. This price has already commenced in Lagos, and it will be offered nationwide from Monday.
In his statement, he called on other oil marketers such as the NNPC Retail and all other marketers, “to work with us to ensure that Nigerians enjoy high-quality petrol at discounted prices.”
According to him, “The Dangote Refinery is for the benefit of Nigeria and Nigerians. We will therefore continue to work with various value chain players to deliver high quality petrol at cheaper prices. Our aim is for all Nigerians to have ready access to high quality petroleum products that are good for their vehicles, good for their health, and good for their pockets.
Recall that in September, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) under the leadership of Mr. President approved the sale of crude to local refineries in Naira and corresponding purchase of petroleum products in Naira. The move, which commenced on October 1, led to reduced pressure on the dollar and ensured the stability of the local currency.
Dangote thanked Nigerians for their unwavering support and the government for creating an enabling environment for the domestic refining industry.
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