Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, has stated that the organization is not involved in the alleged importation of substandard petroleum products.

Kyari made this assertion while addressing the Senate ad-hoc committee investigating alleged economic sabotage in Nigeria’s petroleum industry on Wednesday.

Kyari emphasized that the relevant regulatory agencies are legally obligated to prevent the importation of such substandard products. He asserted that NNPC has not violated any of the laws governing its operations and should not be implicated in claims of economic sabotage.

“Refining business is a straightforward business. You must secure a source for your feedstock and you must find a market,” Kyari explained. “This is basic and this determines what happens in any refinery anywhere in the world. That is the business of refining. We have done nothing to sabotage any domestic refinery.”

Kyari further clarified that the law is explicit about domestic crude oil supply obligations and providing for local refineries, specifying that there must be a willing buyer and a willing seller.

He also highlighted that infrastructure is in place to produce two million barrels of crude oil per day. However, challenges such as crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and lack of investment in the upstream sector are major hindrances to the industry’s progress.

Kyari noted that NNPC, as a company owned by Nigerians, has transitioned from a loss-making position to a profit-making entity. He pledged full cooperation with the committee in its investigation, affirming that NNPC’s board, management, and staff remain loyal and committed to Nigeria.

Kyari assured that NNPC would continue to adhere to the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), the Company and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), and other relevant laws and regulations governing the nation’s energy sector. “We are faithful, loyal, and committed to the progress and development of this country,” he said.

This statement follows claims made on June 23 by Devakumar Edwin, Vice-President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) was indiscriminately granting licenses to marketers to import “dirty refined products” into the country. Consequently, the Senate formed an ad-hoc committee on July 3 to investigate the importation of hazardous petroleum products and the dumping of substandard diesel in Nigeria.