TV Anchor Oseni Rufai Reveals Surge in Petrol Imports from Malta to $2 Billion Under Tinubu’s Administration, Days After Dangote’s NNPC Allegations

TV Anchor Oseni Rufai Reveals Surge in Petrol Imports from Malta to $2 Billion Under Tinubu’s Administration, Days After Dangote’s NNPC Allegations In a dramatic turn of events, TV anchor Oseni Rufai has disclosed that Nigeria’s petrol imports have surged to a staggering $2 billion under President Tinubu’s administration. This revelation comes just days after Aliko Dangote publicly accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) of operating blending plants abroad, including in Malta, where crude oil is allegedly processed and sold back to Nigeria.

Following Dangote’s allegations, which suggested that NNPC VIPs are involved in illegal activities, Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, vehemently denied owning any blending plants or being aware of any such operations. Kyari also claimed that any blending plant in Malta or elsewhere does not influence NNPC’s operations or strategic decisions.

Dangote vs NNPC: Nigeria’s Petrol Imports from Malta Skyrocket by 342% to $2.08 Billion

However, data from Trade Map, a global trade statistics database, reveals a dramatic 342% increase in Nigeria’s import of petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, which reached $2.8 billion in 2023, up from just $47.5 million in 2013. This surge marks a significant rebound after years of fluctuation in import values, with a peak in 2015 and a drastic drop in 2016.

For six consecutive years from 2017 to 2022, Nigeria reported zero imports from Malta. Yet, in 2023, there was a substantial increase, with imports soaring to $2.08 billion. This unprecedented rise in imports from Malta, a relatively minor player in the global oil market, has raised eyebrows and fueled further speculation.

According to an analysis of foreign trade statistics by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s total imports from Malta jumped from zero to approximately N1.03 trillion in 2023. This increase represents about 2.87% of Nigeria’s total imports, despite no recorded international trade between the two countries in 2022. Oseni Rufai highlighted these figures on his official X handle, emphasizing the ongoing controversy surrounding the sudden spike in imports.

Oshiobugie John writes in from Benin City