Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has called upon Nigerians to insist on transparency from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) concerning the true state of petrol subsidy payments.
The call comes amid growing confusion and frustration over conflicting reports regarding the subsidies, leaving citizens in the dark about the company’s operations.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Obi expressed his concerns about the lack of clarity and transparency from NNPCL, emphasizing the critical need for accountability in government operations. “Nigerians must stop at nothing in demanding for transparency in the operations of government, especially critical agencies like the state-owned NNPCL whose activities appear to be shrouded in secrecy,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Obi highlighted the incongruity in NNPCL’s financial declarations, noting, “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 N3 trillion profit in 2023, is coming up with a bizarre claim of ‘financial constraints’ in supplying fuel.”
He attributed the ongoing fuel scarcity crisis, characterized by persistent queues and widespread hardship, to governmental 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.”
Obi urged the government to adhere to the Petroleum Industry Act, which mandates transparency in NNPCL’s operations, and called for an immediate disclosure of the company’s dealings. “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 his closing remarks, Obi reaffirmed the necessity for truth and accountability, insisting that the Nigerian people deserve better governance. “We should not rest until we uncover the truth and hold those responsible accountable. The Nigerian people deserve better,” he concluded.
