Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has called on Nigerians to demand greater transparency from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) concerning the actual status of petrol subsidy payments.
Obi raised his concerns in a statement released on Tuesday, pointing to conflicting reports that have left the public unclear about the company’s operations.
“Nigerians must stop at nothing in demanding transparency in the operations of government, especially critical agencies like the state-owned NNPCL whose activities appear to be shrouded in secrecy,” Obi wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
He criticized the contradictory reports on subsidy payments, noting that they have obscured the truth about what is happening within NNPCL.
“The conflicting reports on subsidy payments have left Nigerians in the dark, unsure of what is happening in this all-important company. It is very curious that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which declared a ₦3 trillion profit in 2023, is coming up with a bizarre claim of ‘financial constraints’ in supplying fuel.”
Obi attributed the ongoing fuel scarcity crisis, marked by persistent queues and widespread hardship, to government incompetence.
“The fuel scarcity crisis, characterized by endless queues and untold hardship, is a direct result of the government’s ineptitude. The $20 billion Dangote Refinery and other Modular Refineries’ struggles to secure crude oil supply and NNPCL’s search for outside operators for its refineries are further proof of this administration’s gross incompetence,” he stated.
He also emphasized the need for transparency in NNPCL’s operations, financial dealings, and future plans, citing the Petroleum Industry Act, which mandates an open and transparent NNPCL.
Obi urged the government to be transparent about the issues at hand and to take responsibility for the current crisis.
“We demand a better level of transparency in NNPCL’s operations, financial dealings, and plans for the future. The Petroleum Industry Act mandates an open and transparent NNPCL; we should not stand idly by while this government violates our laws. We demand that this administration come clean on these issues and take responsibility for the mess it has created.”
In closing, Obi called on Nigerians to remain vigilant and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
“We should not rest until we uncover the truth and hold those responsible accountable. The Nigerian people deserve better,” he concluded.