Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for what he sees as a lack of transparency after the company disclosed a $6 billion debt owed to petrol suppliers.
The announcement, made public on Sunday, September 1, shed light on the fuel shortages that have affected the country for the past six weeks. NNPCL’s Chief Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, confirmed the debt and outlined the significant financial pressure it has created for the company.
“NNPC Ltd acknowledges recent reports about its substantial debt to petrol suppliers. This financial burden threatens the sustainability of fuel supply,” Soneye stated. He emphasized that NNPCL is committed to its duty as the supplier of last resort under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and is coordinating with government agencies to maintain a steady supply of petroleum products across the country.
Responding to the news, Atiku, through his media aide Phrank Shaibu, expressed serious concerns.
“What happened to the imaginary profits you once boasted about? These layers of deceit and lack of openness have led to this unfortunate situation,” Atiku said in a brief statement on X.
He also accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of pushing NNPCL towards collapse, calling it a “ruthless dismantling of its assets.”
