NNPCL warned against deceit in Port Harcourt refinery’s fuel export to Dubai firm

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has been cautioned against taking Nigerians for granted regarding its claim of exporting the first cargo of Port Harcourt low-sulphur straight-run fuel oil (LSSR) to Gulf Transport & Trading Limited (GTT), a Dubai-based company.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), which issued the warning in a statement on Saturday, called on NNPCL to present the agreement for the purported oil export to GTT for public scrutiny.

NACC Coordinator, Mr. Samson Idoko, expressed concerns about GTT’s previous involvement in crude oil swap deals with NNPCL, questioning the legitimacy of the transactions.

“Why has GTT, which has been swapping our crude oil for years under Mr. Mele Kyari, now suddenly become the recipient of our exported oil?” Idoko queried.

The group alleged that GTT operates on a small scale in Dubai, housed in a single building, making it unlikely that the company could handle significant oil imports from Nigeria.

Urging NNPCL to embrace greater accountability, especially as Nigerians endure the economic effects of fuel subsidy removal, NACC criticized some sections of the media for uncritically reporting NNPCL’s announcement of the sale.

According to NNPCL, the first cargo of 15,000 metric tonnes of LSSR, equivalent to approximately 13.6 million litres, is set to be loaded onto the *Wonder Star MR1* vessel in the coming days, marking the commencement of operations at the Port Harcourt refinery.

NACC challenged NNPCL to ensure transparency by inviting the media to document the loading process, stating, “Anything done without media coverage remains unsubstantiated.”

The group underscored the growing public interest in NNPCL’s operations, particularly regarding its handling of oil exports and refining activities, as the country seeks to stabilize its energy sector amidst economic challenges.

Idoko further alleged that GTT is among the companies established to trade Nigeria’s cargoes and import off-spec fuel from Eastern Europe.