Connect with us

news

REVEALED: Vessels Allegedly linked to Dangote’s brother to deliver imported fuel from Malta amid billionaire’s row with NNPC

Published

on

Dangote: End of the Road for a Monopolist? By Soji Adekunmbi

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.

 

 

REVEALED: Vessels linked to Dangote’s brother to deliver imported fuel from Malta amid billionaire’s row with NNPC

 

 

 

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.

 

news

Newly Graduated Medical Doctors Appreciate Former Governor Yahaya Bello for Scholarship Support

Published

on

 

In a heartfelt display of gratitude, a group of newly graduated medical doctors have publicly acknowledged former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, for his role in supporting their medical education through a full scholarship. The medical professionals, who were part of the pioneer group transferred from Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU) to various universities across Nigeria after the loss of accreditation at their initial institution before the emergence of Yahaya Bello, expressed their appreciation for the former governor’s intervention.

The graduates, transferred to Ebonyi State University, Kaduna State University, and Usman Danfodio University Sokoto, highlighted the critical support they received from Governor Bello and the Kogi State Government.
This included covering all transfer and tuition fees, ensuring they could complete their medical training without financial burden.

In a public letter addressed to the former governor, the students stated, “when we faced the unfortunate challenge of losing accreditation at our former institution, your divine emergence as Governor, swift intervention and the decision to transfer us to other medical schools were not just acts of leadership but of compassion and commitment to the future of Kogi State’s healthcare sector. The efforts of your administration in ensuring that we were successfully transferred to institutions where we could complete our medical training is a testament to your dedication to education and the well-being of your citizens”.

One of the graduates, Dr. Omeiza Abdulmaleek Usman, shared his gratitude, acknowledging the former governor’s unwavering commitment to their education. He also extended his appreciation to the Kogi State Government, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, Dr Mrs Folashade Ayoade Arike, the former Vice Chancellors Prof Hassan Isah and Prof Muhammed Abdulkadir Sanni, Prof Mariat Tenushe, the former provost of the medical college Prof Margaret Araoye, Prof Akogu Simon, Prof Edino, late Dr Emmanuel Busayo Agbana, Dr Omotosho and other management staff of PAAU for their efforts in facilitating the transfer process.

“Our success was made possible by the support of former Governor Yahaya Bello, who generously provided scholarships and covered our tuition and transfer fees. His belief in our potential has been crucial in achieving this milestone,” said Dr Olugbemiro in another social media post.

Dr. Edogbo Anthony thanked the former governor for the upgrade of various health facilities across the state including the PAAU teaching hospital, as well as the construction of standard hospitals to meet the healthcare needs of the people of Kogi.

The new medical doctors expressed their strong desire to give back to Kogi State and beyond.

Continue Reading

news

From Disaster to Divine Intervention: Dr. Paul Enenche’s Hope-Filled Journey to Maiduguri

Published

on

From Disaster to Divine Intervention: Dr. Paul Enenche’s Hope-Filled Journey to Maiduguri

From Disaster to Divine Intervention: Dr. Paul Enenche’s Hope-Filled Journey to Maiduguri

 

Written by Miracle

 

Sahar Weekly Reports That Earlier today, Dr. Paul Enenche, Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, embarked on a goodwill mission to Maiduguri following the devastating floods that ravaged the region over the past six days. His visit was more than just delivering essential supplies—it was about bringing compassion, solidarity, and the Word of Life to a community in need, offering prayers for divine restoration and help from above to prevent future calamities.

 

 

Dr. Paul Enenche’s Mission of Faith: Delivering Support and Spiritual Strength to Maiduguri

 

 

Upon landing in Maiduguri, Dr. Enenche and his team were warmly received by the Deputy Governor of Borno State, His Excellency, Hon. Umar Usman Kadafur. The heartfelt welcome set the tone for a day dedicated to supporting the people of Maiduguri through both spiritual and material assistance, highlighting the unity between spiritual and governmental efforts in the face of adversity.

 

 

Dr. Paul Enenche’s Mission of Faith: Delivering Support and Spiritual Strength to Maiduguri

 

 

The first significant stop of the day was at the Government House, where Dr. Enenche met with the Executive Governor of Borno State, His Excellency, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, accompanied by Deputy Governor Kadafur and the Governor’s Special Advisor on Protocol. During the meeting, Dr. Enenche shared his deep concerns for those affected by the flood and extended prayers for the leadership of Borno State as well as the flood victims. His message centered on hope, divine help, and a swift recovery, underscoring that the state is not facing these challenges alone.

 

 

Dr. Paul Enenche’s Mission of Faith: Delivering Support and Spiritual Strength to Maiduguri

 

 

Following this, Dr. Enenche visited the Dunamis Church in Maiduguri, where he delivered a message of resilience to the congregation, urging them to stand firm in their faith despite the trials they faced. His presence served as a spiritual lifeline, offering strength to the church members during this difficult time.

 

 

Dr. Paul Enenche’s Mission of Faith: Delivering Support and Spiritual Strength to Maiduguri

 

The day’s final visit was to an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, where Dr. Enenche personally connected with those who had been displaced from their homes by the floods. His words of comfort and encouragement resonated deeply with the flood victims, providing both material support and spiritual reinforcement. This visit symbolized his genuine concern for the well-being of those most affected by the disaster, offering a reminder of the power of faith, compassion, and solidarity.

 

Dr. Paul Enenche’s Mission of Faith: Delivering Support and Spiritual Strength to Maiduguri

 

In conclusion, Dr. Paul Enenche’s visit was not only a gesture of goodwill but a beacon of hope for the people of Maiduguri. His prayers for restoration and protection from future disasters left a lasting impact on the hearts of those he met, reminding them that help is never far away, and that in times of great distress, divine assistance will always be there.

 

Dr. Paul Enenche’s Mission of Faith: Delivering Support and Spiritual Strength to Maiduguri

 

Continue Reading

news

Meet Ajefu Joseph, Managing Director Of Jodip Gold Limited

Published

on

The CEO of Jodip Gold Limited, Mr Ajefu Joseph Enojo is no doubt a gift to Nigeria on account of the solutions his company has provided in the field of mining and processing.

 Jodip Gold Limited, incorporated in September 2018, has evolved and become a leading Exploration, Mining, Processing company in mining industry. From its humble beginning in the sector to its flourising operations today, the company has positioned itself as a force to be reckoned with.

Speaking on the reason behind Jodip Gold limited’s sporadic growth, Mr Atefu Joseph explained that one of the major factors that has helped his company to become a force to be reckoned with is the ability to be trust worthy.

‘’Monitoring trust is very important in today’s mining industry which is moving globally. We continue to make continuous effects to improve and innovate to maintain our existence as a company that been operating since 2018. Exactly 2 years ago, we started our own mining operations proper which received a good reception from players in the sectors. It is with this trust that we continue to develop ourselves a credible operators in Nigeria. We continue to comply with the principles of systematic, professionalism and improve the competence of our employees and we continue to adopt best industry’’

‘’We are committed to implementing business strategies based on continuously improving the operations efficiency of our assets. we provide a safe, healthy work place for employee by demonstrating our commitment to sustainable development through ethical business practices while carrying about the environment and social responsibility. We strive to become an employer of choice while promoting an open and empowering culture based on the merits of the individual’’

‘’At Jodip Gold Limited, we refer to our employees as team members which is our strength. We strive to be among the top 5 mining and processing companies in Nigeria. Jodip Gold Limited believe in value addition to our solid minerals (products) that gave birth to some of our prospects in view-cassava to ethanol production line using coal fried power plant as energy source, within processing plant, iron beneficiation plant, e.t.c.’’

Most especially in Kogi state, Jodip Gold Limited has engaged in several corporate social responsibilities that include the construction of roads, distribution of palliatives to communities, to mention but a few.

Furthermore, Mr Afefu Joseph has other business interest in oil and gas, real estate, ICT and Agriculture. He seats on board of other companies, Jayaksda synergy limited, Jotibliz global concept limited .He equally served in various capacity with some Nigeria companies such as : fleet analyst- Dangote group, Saint David’s Porter Limited consultant etc

Continue Reading

Cover Of The Week

Trending