The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Mele Kyari, has responded to allegations made by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, that some ‘’NNPC people” operate a blending machine in Malta, an Island country in Southern Europe, from where they now ship substandard products into the country.

While speaking at the House of Representatives on Monday, July 22, Dangote said;

“SOME OF THE TERMINALS, SOME OF THE NNPC PEOPLE AND SOME TRADERS HAVE OPENED BLENDING PLANTS SOMEWHERE OFF MALTA. WE ALL KNOW THESE AREAS. WE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING”

Responding to the claim via his social media handle today July 23, Kyari said he does not operate any blending machine anywhere in the world and neither does he know of any staff of NNPC who operates a blending machine in any part of the world.

His statement reads;

”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.”