The National Transparency Watch (NTW) has accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) of withholding critical details regarding its recent export of low sulfur straight run fuel oil (LSSR) from the Port Harcourt Refinery to Dubai-based Gulf Transport & Trading Limited (GTT).
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, the NTW Coordinator, Ademola Moses, expressed disappointment over NNPCL’s failure to provide full disclosure 72 hours after confirming the controversial transaction. He alleged that the lack of transparency suggested the corporation may have something to hide.
Moses raised concerns over the choice of GTT as the buyer, noting the company’s alleged involvement in past questionable dealings, including its association with contaminated and sanction-tainted Russian oil.
“We challenge NNPCL to prove that GTT is not connected to its alleged scheme of blending Nigerian products with sanctioned imports. The corporation must also clarify if the exported LSSR is being swapped for substandard fuel from Eastern Europe, despite domestic shortages,” Moses stated.
He further alleged that GTT has ties to companies linked to individuals reportedly fronting for NNPCL executives. “The cargo GTT reportedly took is part of a ploy to create the illusion that the Port Harcourt Refinery is functional. In reality, these products are being transshipped to Europe for blending and returned to Nigeria,” Moses added.
The NTW Coordinator also accused Adisa Aliyu, identified as the owner of Matrix Energy, of spearheading illegal blending operations in Malta and leveraging investments in the Port Harcourt Blending Plant to profit from the export scheme.
Describing the operation as “state-supported deceit,” Moses called for a thorough investigation into the transaction and urged NNPCL to address the concerns raised
