Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) of failing to remit oil revenues to the Nigerian government for over five months.
Mr Soludo spoke during an event at the Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre, Awka, Anambra State capital.
A video clip which showed the governor making the comments has been circulating on social media.
It is unclear when the event took place although there are indications it occurred in July.
‘NNPC hasn’t remitted any oil revenue since February’
Mr Soludo claimed the Nigerian government had been relying on remittances from the Nigerian Customs Service and taxes to pay monthly allocations to state governments.
“Nigeria’s oil money has finished. Are you people hearing me?
“Since February, March, April, May and this June that just ended, NNPC has not paid any money into the Federation Account from oil revenue,” he told attendees at the event in Igbo language.
“What we (federal, state and local governments) have been sharing (as monthly allocations) are revenues generated by customs service, taxes etc. It is good for everyone to know this today,” the governor added.
NNPC silent
Olufemi Soneye, the spokesperson of the NNPC Ltd, did not respond to calls on Wednesday afternoon seeking his comments.
Mr Soneye was also yet to respond to a text message seeking his comments as of the time of filing this report.
Debt headache
Mr Soludo’s accusation came days after NNPC Ltd admitted that it owed an undisclosed amount of money to suppliers of Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise known as petrol.
“NNPC Ltd has acknowledged recent reports in national newspapers regarding the company’s significant debt to petrol suppliers. This financial strain has placed considerable pressure on the company and poses a threat to the sustainability of petrol supply,” Mr Soneye said in a statement on 1 September 2024.
The spokesperson was reacting to an earlier news report that the company was owing $6.8 billion to international oil suppliers.
He, however, did not mention the exact amount the company was owing the petrol suppliers.
Support PREMIUM TIMES’ journalism of integrity and credibility
At Premium Times, we firmly believe in the importance of high-quality journalism. Recognizing that not everyone can afford costly news subscriptions, we are dedicated to delivering meticulously researched, fact-checked news that remains freely accessible to all.
Whether you turn to Premium Times for daily updates, in-depth investigations into pressing national issues, or entertaining trending stories, we value your readership.
It’s essential to acknowledge that news production incurs expenses, and we take pride in never placing our stories behind a prohibitive paywall.
Would you consider supporting us with a modest contribution on a monthly basis to help maintain our commitment to free, accessible news?
TEXT AD: Call Willie – +2348098788999
