PDP Raises Alarm Over Plot To Fritter N1.7t Hazy NNPC Deal
BY EVELYN DADU, ABUJA – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it is alarmed by alleged plans by officials in the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration to divert over N1.7 trillion, ($3.9 billion) to their personal purses, under the guise of acquiring 20% shares in the $19. 5 billion refinery being built by Dangote Group.
The party expressed concern over what it described as “the opaque and nebulous deal” being pushed by fraudulent officials of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which not only allows corrupt persons in the government to divert the funds, but also entangles and smears the unsuspecting firm with corruption
The Party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan said that while it has nothing against any genuine and honest incentives for private refineries or any moves to divest the nation’s economic interest in the private sector, it however insists that such must not be used as a ruse to siphon funds from the national treasury.
The PDP further said; “Moreover, is it not an absurdity for a government, which cannot fix our refineries, to be planning to spend such huge amount of money in a venture that it would be a minority stakeholder, if not in the pursuit of sleazy deals by corrupt officials?
“This is more so as the payment arrangement involving crude barter has remained hazy, underhanded and lacking in the required transparency in evaluation, cost, and exchange terms.
“Our party therefore demands that the Federal Government immediately halt this nebulous process. The transaction must be made completely open, in terms of conditions for crude barter, signatories, duration, equity sharing and signatories, among other conditions,” it stressed.
The PDP therefore urged the Dangote Group and other concerned investing firms to be wary of going into any kind of deals with corrupt officials of the APC administration.
The party also charged the National Assembly to protect the nation by summoning the management of the NNPC and immediately commence a holistic investigation into the deal.
The PDP insists that any process involving the divesting of the nation’s economic interest by the government must be made open, transparent and not allowed to become a conduit pipe for “treasury-looting officials in the APC administration”.
Why using such humongous amount in its position to purchase shares in an individual company, and leaving its own 3 refineries laying dilapidated?
Obviously there is something heinous under their sleeves. How many jobs could have been created that could have lifted thousands out of unemployment if that huge amount is used sensibly? How many Nigerians will benefit from that investment? Why not use such humongous amount to invest in the so much dilapidated infrastructures across the country that could be of tremendous benefit to the general public?
The investment will be a colossal waste as only the few elites will finally be the core beneficiaries.