Abuja,
, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, has strongly refuted allegations of substandard fuel circulating in Nigeria, labeling the claims “unfortunate drama” and “bad marketing practice.” Speaking at a fireside chat during the 60th Nigeria Mining & Geosciences Society (NMGS) Conference in Abuja, Kyari asserted that the nation’s Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, consistently meets international quality standards.
“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 the people,” Kyari stated, addressing concerns raised by various reports.
He emphasized that fuel quality standards vary across countries, providing examples of differing regulatory requirements for fuel additives. “In Europe, oxygenate (a fuel additive) has to be introduced into PMS otherwise it will solidify the tank in people’s cars. But if the same fuel additive is introduced into cars in Nigeria, it turns to water once it gets into contact with air,” Kyari explained. “In essence, what is required by law to be introduced in one country, it is also required by law not to be introduced in another country.”
Kyari underscored the role of regulatory bodies like the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Nigerian Midstream & Downstream Regulatory Agency (NMDPRA) in ensuring compliance. “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,” he told the audience.
He further addressed specific allegations of a 200 million liter fuel import in February, dismissing them as “lies.” “These are just lies, because we didn’t even import products within that window that the report was published. All the mischief about aligning this fictitious importation with the so-called low-quality fuel are just baseless,” Kyari said.
He also explained that importation is a normal practice within the global petroleum industry, giving examples of nations like the United States that import fuel.
“People can have their frustrations, but falsehood should never be extended into business,” Kyari cautioned, adding that NNPC Ltd has taken legal and security measures to address those spreading false information. “The implications of such acts are not only on NNPC Ltd anymore but more about messing up the whole country.”
Earlier in his address, Kyari urged NMGS members to embrace innovation and technology to maximize Nigeria’s natural resources. The conference, themed “Transformation of the Mineral, Energy, Water, and Construction Sectors through Innovation,” focused on enhancing the role of geoscience in national development.
