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

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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.

 

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Pay Stemco their money or else I will give you a sickness you can’t cure, prophet Ikuru dares Bassey Eno

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By Collins Nkwocha

The prophetic hall of fame, prophet Godwin Ikuru of Jehovah Eye Salvation Ministry has berated the Akwaibom state governor,Bassey Eno for refusing to pay the sum of N7.5 billion which the state is owing Stemco Ltd for road construction projects that were executed in the state between 2012 and 2015.

The prophet described the attitude of the governor as insensitive, vicious and wicked “how come you claim to be a pastor and you’re insensitive and wicked towards the plight of the people,Stemco has over 4000 staff that has been rendered financially handicap, homeless and worthless; today I received a message that one of the staff died today because he couldn’t afford to pay for medical treatment because Awaiting statement government has made the company poor,this company borrowed money to execute your project in Akwaibom and you have refused to pay them; it’s obvious you’re not a man of God,I want U to pay them that money within seven days or I will pray and God will torment you,you will be diagnosed of a sickness that doesn’t have cure and you will know that the power of God truly exist”.

He condemned the Eno for trying to swerve by claiming that the project was not executed in his administration “the project was executed for Akwaibom state government ,whose regime it was executed is absolutely inconsequential because it’s a state project, refusal to pay indicates that he’s callous and Wicked”.

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GENERAL BURATAI MOURNS HAJIYA DADA MUSA ‘YAR’ADUA, ENCOURAGES FAMILY TO UPHOLD HER REMARKABLE LEGACY

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GENERAL BURATAI MOURNS HAJIYA DADA MUSA ‘YAR’ADUA, ENCOURAGES FAMILY TO UPHOLD HER REMARKABLE LEGACY

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sahara Weekly Reports That On Friday, 6 September, His Excellency, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai (rtd) CFR, Betara of Biu, Garkuwan Keffi, former Chief of Army Staff, and Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Benin Republic, visited Katsina to extend his heartfelt condolences to the ‘Yar’adua family following the passing of their revered matriarch, Hajiya Habiba Dada Musa ‘Yar’adua.

 

 

 

GENERAL BURATAI MOURNS HAJIYA DADA MUSA ‘YAR’ADUA, ENCOURAGES FAMILY TO UPHOLD HER REMARKABLE LEGACY

 

 

 

Upon his arrival at the family home, General Buratai was warmly received by Distinguished Senator Abdulaziz Musa ‘Yar’adua, Matawallen Katsina, and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Alhaji Mustapha and Major General Abubakar Adamu (rtd). In a solemn moment, the General offered prayers for the repose of Hajiya Dada’s soul, asking for Allah’s continuous blessings and protection over the family and the enduring legacy she left behind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Buratai also spoke highly of the late Hajiya Dada, describing her as a mother anyone could wish for, whose legacy of strength, humility, and dedication to her family and community was nothing short of remarkable. He emphasized that her influence would be deeply missed by all who knew her and encouraged the family to take solace and pride in the indelible mark she left on Nigeria’s history.

 

 

GENERAL BURATAI MOURNS HAJIYA DADA MUSA ‘YAR’ADUA, ENCOURAGES FAMILY TO UPHOLD HER REMARKABLE LEGACY

 

 

 

In response, Senator Abdulaziz Musa ‘Yar’adua expressed profound gratitude to General Buratai for his presence and kind words. He lauded the General as a true leader whose contributions to national development, peace, and security are beyond measure. The Senator also highlighted General Buratai’s compassion and dedication to the welfare of troops, and veterans, both in service and after retirement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Buratai was accompanied on the condolence visit by Brigadier General SK Usman (rtd) mni, Honourable Alhaji Aminu Balele (Dan Arewa), and Alhaji Ibrahim Danfulani, Sadaukin Garkuwan Keffi, among others.

 

 

GENERAL BURATAI MOURNS HAJIYA DADA MUSA ‘YAR’ADUA, ENCOURAGES FAMILY TO UPHOLD HER REMARKABLE LEGACY

 

 

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DEBUNKING FALSE NEWS ON YACHT OWNERSHIP

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DEBUNKING FALSE NEWS ON YACHT OWNERSHIP

DEBUNKING FALSE NEWS ON YACHT OWNERSHIP

 

 

 

 

Sahara Weekly Reports That There have been false claims circulating that a private individual’s yacht spotted in St. Tropez is a Nigerian government yacht. Here are some points to consider in order to discern the truth:

 

 

DEBUNKING FALSE NEWS ON YACHT OWNERSHIP

 

 

 

1. The 42m Bennetti yacht currently being share online has been privately owned for around 5 years since it was constructed. It is important to note that this specific yacht has no connection or ownership ties to the Nigerian government, president or armed forces. Any claims or assertions suggesting otherwise are simply not true and inaccurate.

 

2. It is not uncommon for luxury yachts to fly the flag of the owner’s country as well as the flag of the country in which they are registered.

 

3. The official Nigerian flag is Green-White-Green without a coat of arms in the middle. Flags representing the Nigerian President or the Armed Forces do not contain a coat of arms in the center. Placing anything in the center of the flag is a clear deviation.

 

Regarding the naval observatory and training ship often referred to as the “presidential yacht,” it was ordered and acquired by Nigeria during President M. Buhari’s tenure (2015-2023). It was delivered in June 2023 but was never paid for. This information has been officially confirmed by the Naval authorities. Director of Naval Information, Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, affirmed in a statement in November 2023 that the yacht was indeed ordered during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and was delivered to Nigeria well before it was included in the budget as an outstanding debt obligation. “That is correct, it is in Nigeria,” he said.

 

Finally, it is important to exercise caution and refrain from defaming or exposing private individuals and their legitimate businesses to ridicule based on false political associations with personal property.

 

 

https://x.com/otegaogra/status/1832371410230022261?s=46&t=-WT1A6V3jj52Bil8fk9JSg

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