Just in: NNPC Ltd’s GCEO, Kyari, debunks claims he owns blending plants in Malta

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Malam Mele Kyari, has clarified that he does not own or operate any business directly or by proxy anywhere in the world.

The clarification comes on the heels of an allegation by Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, that some staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) and oil traders are operating a blending plant in Malta, Europe.

Persecondnews reports that a blending plant is a facility that has no refining capability but is either capable of producing finished motor gasoline through mechanical blending or blends oxygenates with motor gasoline.

Kyari, in a post on his official X handle on Tuesday, said: “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.”