Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Mr. Mele Kyari, has dismissed concerns over the presence of substandard premium motor spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, in Nigeria, calling such claims an unfortunate display of drama and misleading marketing tactics.
Speaking at a fireside chat during the 60th Nigeria Mining & Geosciences Society (NMGS) conference in Abuja, Kyari affirmed that neither NNPC Ltd nor the country faces any issues related to fuel quality. He described the ongoing discussions about fuel standards as baseless, asserting that every country has its own unique quality benchmarks.
“The talk around fuel quality is unfortunate and a very bad marketing practice. It’s all drama and entertainment, and as we know, drama has a way of entertaining people,” Kyari said.
The Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, Olufemi Soneye, echoed Kyari’s stance in an official statement, explaining that fuel specifications vary between regions. He pointed out that in Europe, a specific oxygenate additive is required to prevent fuel from solidifying in vehicle tanks, whereas in Nigeria, the same additive would turn to water when exposed to air.
Kyari emphasized that Nigeria has strict regulatory bodies such as the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Nigerian Midstream & Downstream Regulatory Agency (NMDPRA), which ensure that all imported fuel meets the country’s required standards. He expressed confidence in the work of these agencies, stating, “I believe these regulatory agencies are doing their job. They have not come back to tell anyone that we have substandard products in the country.”
In response to viral claims about poor fuel quality, Kyari revealed that NNPC Ltd has taken legal and security measures to prevent the spread of misinformation, warning that such actions not only harm the company but also tarnish the country’s image.
Addressing additional reports suggesting that NNPC Ltd imported 200 million liters of fuel in February, Kyari categorically denied the claims, labeling them as outright falsehoods.
“These are just lies because we didn’t even import products within that window when the report was published. All the mischief about aligning this fictitious importation with the so-called low-quality fuel is baseless,” he asserted.
He further explained that importing petroleum products is a routine global practice, citing examples of countries like the United States and Saudi Arabia, which, despite having refineries, still import fuel when necessary.
Earlier in his address at the conference, Kyari urged members of the Nigerian Mining & Geosciences Society (NMGS) to adopt innovative technologies and cultivate a culture of continuous improvement to maximize Nigeria’s natural resource potential and boost national revenue.
The NMGS conference, themed “Transformation of the Mineral, Energy, Water, and Construction Sectors through Innovation,” focused on industry reforms, policy advancements, and the role of geoscience in national development.
