Nigeria has witnessed a dramatic increase in its importation of petroleum from Malta, with figures skyrocketing by 342% to reach $2.8 billion in 2023.

This significant rise comes amid ongoing tensions between the Dangote Group and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).

According to data from Trade Map, a global database on international trade statistics, Nigeria’s imports of petroleum oils and oils derived from bituminous minerals from Malta have surged from $47.5 million in 2013 to $2.8 billion this year. This notable increase reflects a substantial shift in the country’s petroleum supply sources.

The surge in imports from Malta highlights a major change in Nigeria’s petroleum import landscape, possibly influenced by the current rift between the Dangote Group—one of Nigeria’s largest private sector players in the oil and gas industry—and the state-owned NNPC and regulator Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). The conflict between these major entities has likely played a role in the exposure of the shift in import patterns over the years.

If you recall, the Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote had told newsmen at his refinery that some individuals in Nigeria had set up a blending plant in Malta to refine crude from Nigeria and import it back to Nigeria for subsidy gains. This was immediately followed by a disclaimer from the group managing director of the NNPCL on his X page claiming that he was unaware of anyone within NNPC being part of the individuals who owned said blending plant. He called for further investigations and possible sanctions by relevant authorities and regulators.