An indigenous oil company, Matrix Energy Group has responded to allegations that it is bringing in inferior fuel mostly from Malta, stating that its products fulfill all legal requirements.
This was disclosed in a statement by the spokesperson of Matrix, Ibrahim Akinola on Saturday, adding that the report was inaccurate.
The CEO of Dangote Refinery, Aliko Dangote, recently made allegations that some oil operators are working together with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to operate an illicit blending plant in Malta, with the intention of bringing inferior petroleum products into Nigeria.
The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPC, Mele Kyari, however, denied any ownership or operation of a refinery in Malta.
Matrix Energy Group, which is purportedly importing from Malta, denied any misconduct in a statement released on Saturday. It further stated that its petroleum products comply with all regulatory requirements.
Furthermore, the company refuted the news report’s accusation that it released 200,000 metric tons of PMS into its facilities in July 2024.
“Our attention has been drawn to a recent online publication where our name was featured. We would have loved to ignore the tissue of lies spewed in the publication but the need to set the records straight and facts from sensation behooves us to address the matter, as well as the need to protect and uphold the integrity of the brand and reputation we have meticulously built over the past 20 years.
“We have consistently imported products that meet the approved specifications, and we have never been found wanting. Our commitment to quality is reflected in the fact that none of our customers have ever rejected our products; indeed, demand for Matrix products often exceeds our capacity to supply, a testament to our reputation for reliability.
“The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority is the sole regulatory body empowered by the Petroleum Industry Act to issue import licenses and enforce the Standards Organization of Nigeria product specifications.
“Contrary to the claims made in the aforementioned publication, we did not discharge 200,000 metric tons of PMS into our facility in July 2024.
“While we have the capacity and customer base to handle such volumes, Matrix Energy has never imported or distributed any substandard cargo in our two decades of operation. Our quality test has never been doubted by the regulators and Nigerians who have found a partner in us,” the statement read in part.
The oil company, however, did not deny importation of petrol from Malta.
Meanwhile, it said the company, like all oil operators in Nigeria, have the right to source its products from any part of the world, as along as it is not breaking any law.
According to Matrix, the CEO of the company, Abdulkabir Adisa is free to transact with anybody and conduct business as a member of the society.
“Our Chief Executive Officer, Abdulkabir Adisa, is a talented and dedicated Nigerian with the right to associate freely as well as trade freely in any part of the world.
“As he stated in his presentation before the Nigerian Senate, we are not aware that Nigerian companies have been banned from bringing in legitimate and standard products from outside the country and until such is done, we will continue to serve the public with the best quality products,” the company said.
It was previously reported that the CEO of Dangote Refinery, Aliko Dangote, Dangote said that some officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and oil traders owned blending facilities in Malta, a country located in Southern Europe.
According to Dangote, everyone involved in the oil and gas sector is aware of the locations of the blending plants.
Some of the terminals, some of the NNPC people and some traders have opened blending plants somewhere off Malta. We all know these areas. We know what they are doing,” Dangote said.
