The presidency has addressed claims that Abdulkabir Adisa Aliu, a member of President Bola Tinubu’s Economic Coordination Council, is one of Malta’s largest petrol importers.
These claims surfaced after Aliko Dangote, chairman of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, alleged that officials from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL), along with oil traders and terminals, had established a blending plant in Malta.
However, NNPC’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, swiftly refuted Dangote’s assertion, stating that he has no involvement in any plant in Malta. Despite this, a report from The Cable suggested that Aliu is one of the most significant importers of petrol from Malta.
In response to these allegations, Aliu denied any misconduct in his business practices during an interview with the publication, promising to provide a comprehensive response to the questions raised. According to an insider who shared confidential documents with The Cable, over 200,000 tonnes of petrol from Malta were offloaded at the Matrix jetty in Warri, Delta State, in July 2024 alone.
Reacting to the situation, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, released a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, defending Aliu. Ajayi emphasized that Aliu has been a key player in the petrol industry for more than 20 years and that his business activities are unrelated to his role on President Tinubu’s economic council.
Ajayi’s statement read, “It seems @thecableng is attempting to create unnecessary controversy. There is no valid connection between Matrix Energy’s petrol imports and the CEO’s position on President Tinubu’s Economic Council. Aliu has been in the business for over two decades. Accusations of importing substandard fuel are baseless, especially when they seem motivated by a rival’s attempt to protect their own interests.
“Matrix Energy has long been active in the downstream sector, with established business relationships with NNPC that predate the current administration. The company operates over 150 retail stations nationwide and owns three vessels, as well as one of the largest independent product storage facilities in Nigeria.
“Aliu’s role on President Tinubu’s Economic Council is a reflection of his longstanding contributions to the industry, not a cause of his business success.”
