In a strong call for accountability, Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, urged Nigerians to demand transparency from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) regarding petrol subsidy payments.
Obi expressed concerns over conflicting reports that have left citizens uncertain about the true state of affairs within the NNPCL. In a statement made on Tuesday, he emphasised the need for transparency, especially within critical government agencies like the state-owned NNPCL, which has often been criticised for operating under a veil of secrecy.
He highlighted the contradictions in NNPCL’s financial narrative, questioning how a company that declared a N3 trillion profit in 2023 could now claim financial constraints in fuel supply. Obi linked the ongoing fuel scarcity, marked by long queues and widespread hardship, directly to government incompetence.
Citing issues like the struggles of the $20 billion Dangote Refinery and the NNPCL’s search for external operators for its refineries, he argued that these are clear signs of the current administration’s failures.
Obi urged Nigerians not to remain passive, stressing that the Petroleum Industry Act mandates an open and transparent NNPCL. He called on the government to address these issues, take responsibility for the chaos, and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
“The Nigerian people deserve better,” Obi concluded, reinforcing the need for transparency and accountability in government operations.
