New details have emerged regarding the companies and individuals involved in the importation of substandard petroleum products from Malta, with Sayyu Dantata, the half-brother of Dangote Group President Aliko Dangote, identified as one of the importers.
In July, Mr. Dangote alleged that some officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, along with oil traders, operate blending plants in Malta where they produce and import off-spec petroleum products for consumption in Nigeria.
Mr. Dangote made these claims in response to comments by Ahmed Farouk, Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), who had criticized the quality of products from the Dangote refinery compared to imported ones.
Read Also: BREAKING: FG Announce Date To Begin Naira Crude Oil Sale To Dangote, Others Local Refineries
“Even at 650,000 bpm and 700,000 bpm, that we are producing was a better quality than what was imported. And I am sure most of you will have problems with your vehicle because of the bad fuel that were imported into the country, I still stand by what I said.
“Go to filling station, you can pick it up and check the quality. That is only way. But all these one somebody will bring in ship, bring in fake certificates. Some NNPC people, some traders have opened a blending plant somewhere in Malta. We all know these areas, we know what they are doing,” Dangote said.
Read Also: Naira Crashes Again, No Longer N1,590 Per Dollar In Parallel Market
Documents obtained by *DAILY NIGERIAN* have identified MRS Oil and Gas as one of the companies importing fuel from Malta.
Sayyu Dantata, the half-brother of Aliko Dangote, is the founder and CEO of MRS Oil and Gas.
The company’s board also includes Aisha Dantata, Abdu Dantata, Patrice Alberti, GMD, Amina Maina, GCOO, and Mohammed Dantata.
According to the documents, MRS Oil and Gas imported fuel into Nigeria in February 2024 using the vessel MT AETHER. In separate letters dated March 4, the company confirmed to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) that it had purchased 91,219.232 metric tons of unleaded gasoline 91 Ron from PETROCAM DMCC.
The letters, signed by Moyosola Kuku, General Manager of Risk Management, stated that the product was loaded at the port of OPL Malta onto the vessel MT AETHER.
“We hereby confirm that MRS Oil and Gas Co. Ltd. purchased 91,219.232 Mt Vac of unleaded gasoline 91 Ron from PETROCAM DMCC, was loaded at the port of OPL Malta onto vessel MT AETHER with bill of lading dated 19/02/2024 as evidenced by the following documents attached, bill of lading, cargo manifest, certificate of origin, and certificate of quantity.
“In line with the February 2024 spot gasoline supply contract, we subsequently sold full cargo on board MT AETHER [91.219.232 MTV] to NNPC for delivery offshore Lagos.
“We remain at your disposal for any further information you might require,” the letter reads.
In a separate letter dated March 4, addressed to the Managing Director of NNPC Trading Limited, MRS Oil and Gas confirmed the sale of a full cargo aboard the MT AETHER, totaling 91,219.232 metric tons. The bill of lading, dated February 19, 2024, indicates that this cargo was sold to NNPC for delivery offshore Lagos.
The letter titled, “Confirmation of Sale of Cargo to Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation”, reads, We MRS Oil and Gas Co. Ltd., hereby confirm that we sold full cargo on board MT AETHER (91,219.232 MTV) with bill of lading dated 19/02/2024 to NNPC for delivery offshore Lagos.
“We remain at your disposal for any further information you might require.
Source: Daily Nigerian
