Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has sharply criticized the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for its lack of transparency following the company’s revelation of a $6 billion debt to petrol suppliers.
On September 1, 2024, NNPCL admitted to owing a substantial sum to its suppliers, exacerbating the ongoing fuel scarcity that has troubled Nigeria for six weeks. The Chief Communications Officer of NNPCL, Mr. Olufemi Soneye, confirmed the debt and acknowledged the severe financial strain it has placed on the company’s operations. He assured that NNPCL is working with government agencies to ensure a steady supply of petroleum products nationwide.
Reacting to the news, Atiku Abubakar, through his media aide Phrank Shaibu, criticized the NNPCL’s lack of transparency. “What has become of these fictitious or phantom profits you once proudly proclaimed? Layers of deceit and lack of transparency have brought you to this unfortunate juncture,” Atiku said in a statement on X. He also accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of driving the NNPC to ruin, describing the situation as the “ruthless dismantling of its assets.”