$6.8bn NNPCL debt: Nigerians in diaspora plan to protest in UK, US

A group of Nigerians abroad, under the aegis of the Diaspora Good Governance Watch (DGGW), have hinted that there plans to lead protests over the $6.8bn owed to petrol suppliers by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).

The group, which is being led by a former House of Representatives candidate on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kolawole Akinmosu, informed that the protests are billed to be held in London and at the United Nations General Assembly in New York respectively.

Akinmosu, in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday, lamented the alleged failure of the NNPC to address the myriad of challenges facing the industry, which he claimed, led to fuel scarcity, pipeline vandalism, and oil theft becoming the norm.

According to him, the ongoing fuel crisis in Nigeria has taken a devastating toll on Nigerian citizens.

The statement reads in parts: “We are outraged by the Nigerian NNPCL recent admission that it owes $6.8 billion to petrol suppliers, after initially denying being indebted.

“The NNPCL’s debt crisis is a result of years of inefficiencies, corruption, and mismanagement, which have led to fuel scarcity, pipeline vandalism, and oil theft becoming the norm.

“The lack of transparency and accountability in the sector has tarnished Nigeria’s reputation and led to billions of dollars lost to fraudulent activities.

“The initial denial of debt by the NNPCL is a clear indication of an attempt to cover up and deceive the Nigerian people. This act of dishonesty has eroded trust and confidence in the NNPCL and its leadership.

“It is unacceptable for a state-owned corporation to engage in such blatant deception,” Akinmosu said.

He stated further that: “The sector’s contribution to the nation’s GDP has dwindled, and the country’s reputation has been tarnished due to lack of transparency and accountability, with billions of dollars lost to fraudulent activities.”

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE