In the wake of ongoing fuel scarcity and widespread confusion over petrol subsidy payments, Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has called on Nigerians to insist on transparency from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). Obi’s remarks come amid growing concerns over the opaque nature of NNPCL’s operations and conflicting reports about the status of fuel subsidy payments.
In a strongly worded statement posted on Tuesday, Obi expressed alarm over the lack of clarity surrounding the subsidies, stating that it has left Nigerians in the dark about the true state of the nation’s fuel supply and financial health. “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,” Obi wrote on the social media platform X.
Obi pointed out that the conflicting reports from NNPCL regarding subsidy payments have only deepened the uncertainty. He questioned the credibility of the company’s claims, particularly in light of its recent declaration of a N3 trillion profit in 2023. “It is very curious that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which declared a N3 trillion profit in 2023, is now coming up with a bizarre claim of ‘financial constraints’ in supplying fuel,” Obi stated.
The former Anambra State governor did not mince words in attributing the current fuel crisis to the government’s incompetence. He highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by the $20 billion Dangote Refinery and other modular refineries, which are struggling to secure crude oil supplies. Obi also criticized NNPCL’s search for external operators to run its refineries as further evidence of the administration’s failure.
“The fuel scarcity crisis, characterized by endless queues and untold hardship, is a direct result of the government’s ineptitude,” Obi said. He urged Nigerians not to remain passive in the face of these issues and to demand a higher level of transparency from NNPCL in its operations, financial dealings, and future plans.
Obi also referenced the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which mandates an open and transparent NNPCL, asserting that the government is violating this law. “The Petroleum Industry Act mandates an open and transparent NNPCL. We should not stand idly by while this government violates our laws,” he declared.
He called on the administration to take responsibility for the current chaos, urging it to be honest with the Nigerian people. “We should not rest until we uncover the truth and hold those responsible accountable. The Nigerian people deserve better,” Obi concluded, emphasizing the need for accountability and the protection of the public’s interest in these critical national issues.