The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) has accused the state oil firm, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) of fraudulently doubling daily consumption of petrol from about 30 million litres to 60 million litres.
A delegation of the NGF led by its chairman, Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, made the disclosure on Wednesday at a meeting with Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
NGF called for a thorough investigation of oil subsidy payments made from 2015 to date.
The meeting was attended by the governors of Kaduna, Kebbi, Edo, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa states.
Also present were the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun and the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma, as well as a representative of Dr Maikanti Baru, the NNPC GMD.
The governors also directed the NNPC to clearly differentiate its earnings in sales as against taxes before remitting funds to the Federation Account to avoid unexplained shortfalls.
The forum also expressed concerns over the Joint Venture Cash Call claims by the NNPC and directed that further payments for such be suspended until details of exact amount paid since 2015 is provided.
NGF also directed that all petrol stations less than 10 kilometres to Nigeria’s borders be immediately shut by the Department of Petroleum Resources until they are recertified, saying this was sequel to an excuse by the NNPC that sudden increase in petrol consumption was due to illegal export to neighbouring nations.
Addressing State House reporters after the meeting, Yari said, “This is the second time we are meeting with NNPC in respect of remittances into the federation account.”