Peter Obi, a former Labour Party presidential candidate has called on Nigerians to demand for transparency from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited regarding the truthfulness of petrol subsidy payments.
Obi emphasized in a series of tweets on his official X feed on Tuesday that NNPCL had so far presented Nigerians with 'conflicting' subsidy reports.
He stated that Nigerians need to exert unwavering pressure for government institutions to operate transparently, particularly crucial ones like the state-owned NNPCL, whose operations seem to be cloaked in secret.
“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,” Obi said.
According to him, the fuel scarcity crisis, characterized by endless queues, and untold hardship, is a direct result of the government’s ineptitude.
He continued by saying that this administration's egregious incompetence is further demonstrated by the $20 billion Dangote Refinery and other Modular Refineries' challenges to secure a supply of crude oil and by NNPCL's search for foreign operators for its refineries.
“We demand a better level of transparency in NNPCL’s operations, financial dealings, and plans for the future.”
According to the former presidential candidate, the Petroleum Industry Act requires an open and transparent NNPCL, and the government must address and take responsibility for the violations and create a clean environment.
“We should not rest until we uncover the truth and hold those responsible accountable.”
The Nigerian people deserve better,” he said.