Aliko Dangote’s Half-Brother, Sayyu Dantata, Implicated in Fuel Imports from Malta to Nigeria

Documents obtained by Sahara Reporters confirm that Sayyu Dantata, the half-brother of billionaire Aliko Dangote, is among the key figures importing fuel into Nigeria from Malta. This disclosure follows a similar expose revealing Matrix Energy Group’s involvement in importing fuel from the same European country.

The documents show that MRS Oil & Gas Co. Limited, a company owned by Dantata, is actively involved in importing premium motor spirit (PMS) into Nigeria. Dantata, who serves as the founder and CEO of MRS Holdings Ltd, has now been linked to a fuel trade with Malta that has raised eyebrows within the Nigerian energy sector.

This revelation comes on the heels of growing concerns about fuel imports from Malta, especially after Aliko Dangote, Chairman of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, accused certain officials within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) of importing substandard fuel into the country. Dangote alleged that these NNPCL officials have set up a refinery in Malta to blend inferior petrol, which is then shipped to Nigeria, posing significant risks to vehicles and machinery due to its poor quality.

Nigeria’s fuel imports from Malta saw an astronomical increase, reaching $2.8 billion in 2023, up from negligible figures in previous years. This spike has fueled suspicions and investigations into the origins and quality of these imports.

In July, Dangote publicly criticized the quality of imported fuel, suggesting it was far inferior to what his refinery produces, even alleging sabotage against his operations. He claimed that traders, in collusion with some NNPC officials, are behind this influx of low-grade fuel from Malta.

Further corroborating these concerns, a recent report by BusinessDay uncovered a scheme involving the importation of substandard Russian petroleum products to Malta, where they are blended and then shipped to Nigeria. Matrix Energy, another major player in the Nigerian energy sector, was identified in this report as being involved in these imports, although the company has denied any wrongdoing.

Despite these denials, during a recent inspection of the Dangote Refinery, the House of Representatives uncovered evidence of substandard diesel being imported by Matrix Energy. Tests revealed alarmingly high sulphur levels in the diesel samples, far exceeding permissible limits.

Now, with the involvement of Sayyu Dantata’s MRS Oil & Gas Co. Limited, the spotlight is on Nigeria’s big players in the petroleum industry, revealing a deeper connection to fuel imports from Malta.

One of the documents dated March 4, 2024, is a letter from Moyosola Kuku, General Manager of Risk Management at MRS Oil & Gas Co. Limited, addressed to the Managing Director of NNPCL. The letter, titled “Submission of Shipping/Cargo Documents for Petroleum Product Delivery MT AETHER/SUB with Laycan 17th-19th February 2024,” provides concrete evidence of MRS’s fuel importation activities from Malta.

The letter and its attachments include critical documentation such as marine insurance, certificates of quality, and loading reports, offering a detailed account of the shipment. These documents confirm the purchase of 91,219.232 MT of unleaded gasoline from PETROCAM DMCC, loaded at OPL Malta and subsequently sold to NNPC for delivery in Nigeria.