Connect with us

Business

NNPC claims diverted NLNG dividend used to fund subsidy payments

Published

on

SUBSIDY DEBT: FG, oil marketers reach truce on mode of payment

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said money alleged to have been diverted from the dividend from the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) company was a revolving loan to fund subsidy payments.

According to the NNPC, the $1.05bn revolving loan obtained from the dividend of the NLNG prevented petroleum products’ chaos in the country, adding that the loan was used to subsidise the cost of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, in 2018.

The corporation also said that it was unfortunate for the National Assembly to commence a probe into the use of the NLNG dividend.

It would be recalled that the Senate, on Tuesday, commenced an investigation of the alleged diversion of $1.05bn from the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas dividend account by the NNPC.

The Group General Manager of NNPC, while commenting on the development on Saturday in Abuja, said the probe by the Senate was wrong as the $1.05bn loan saved Nigeria from chaos.

He said: “The Senate got it wrong. Based on newspaper reports, the Senate said it was $3.5bn subsidy fund, whereas we do not have anything like subsidy fund. What we have is that we sourced for revolving loan based on the Nigeria LNG dividend to NNPC.

“And this is because NNPC is a major shareholder in NLNG and inter-party agencies are managing this and the figure is $1.05bn. There is nothing like $3.5bn because anything subsidy must be appropriated by the National Assembly.

“Now, it is important to state that if we didn’t source for that revolving loan, the nation would have been in chaos. They are not looking at that but claim we spent $3.5bn when there is nothing like that. You can’t place something on nothing.

“If we wanted to play safe, we would just appear before the Senate and when they say what of the $3.5bn, we will say nothing like that and that will be all. But for the sake of responsibility, we went further to clarify issues and told them what we have.”

Ugbamadu insisted that there would have been crisis across the country if the NNPC had not taken the step.

Read also: Alarming! IMF says Nigeria spends over 50% of its revenue to service debts

He said further: “So, the investigative panel, set up by the Senate on the Nigeria LNG dividend, is unfortunate because NNPC is the major shareholder and we utilise the dividend paid to the NNPC for importation of products and it is a revolving loan.

“Meaning – the NNPC is going to pay it back and if we didn’t obtain that and if the National Assembly has a leeway, it should recommend to the NNPC on what should be done because the price of petrol at N145 per litre is fixed.

“Major and independent marketers are not importing and you expect the NNPC to concentrate on the importation of products, which is not our core business! And if that is not done, the entire nation will be in chaos; you and I will be affected, including members of the National Assembly.

“It was the same National Assembly that said NNPC should do everything within its reach to ensure that the last fuel challenge is wiped out and that is exactly what we have done.”

Ugbamadu however said he could not provide the exact amount the NNPC is currently incurring as ‘under-recovery’ on petrol.

“The point is that I don’t have the figures here, but you know it varies depending on the international price of products. Except I source the figures from the PPMC (Pipelines Product Marketing Company).

Ughamadu said, “It is for a year. It is for 2018. That is another reason why we are not going to see queues during the Yuletide and beyond because we are augmenting what is imported with our local production. So, Nigeria will not experience fuel shortage this festive period.”The corporation’s spokesperson said it was unfortunate for the Senate to set up an investigative panel on the NLNG dividend as the NNPC controlled the largest stake in the gas company.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now