Yuguda blasts NNPC, says Abuja lacks political will to fully tackle subsidy cabal
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Former Bauchi Governor Isa Yuguda has alleged the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is involved in fuel subsidy scam, an allegation also levelled by several others, including former Benue Finance Commissioner David Olofu and Labour.
Yuguda, also a former Aviation Minister of State, made the allegation on Channels Television.
President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidy in his inaugural speech on May 29, which has imposed more hardship on the masses in form of high transportation costs that filter into increases in the prices of goods and services.
Yuguda disclosed some individuals and organisations are benefitting from fuel subsidy scam, including the NNPC.
“They are all involved in this thing, all of them. I must sadly also report that Nigeria’s subsidy, that part of it that goes for subsidy, will go on subsidising sub-Saharan Africa and Central Africa because the bulk of this product is smuggled out of this country, then who is subsidising who?” he asked.
“It can be very frustrating in Nigeria to implement policies especially where there are intense interest and a cabal that exists. Similar to what you have in the bunkering issue, it can be stopped but you can’t stop it, the political will to stop it is not there.
“There are so many interests that are involved there and that’s what is leading Nigeria to where we are today.
“There was a time during [Goodluck] Jonathan’s administration hardly were we pumping one million barrels per day and the prices kept crashing and how do you manage a government that is dependent on oil?”
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Motion without movement
Yuguda said fuel subsidy should have been removed way back in 2013, reiterating those who support subsidy are connected to the scammers killing Nigeria, per The Guardian.
He blamed a lack of political will by Abuja to fully address the subsidy issue.
“This has been a very serious issue which has been so much talked of. Maybe it’s motion without movement and government didn’t have the political will to address the problem.
“I was privileged to serve as the Chairman of the sub-committee in 2008 and 2009 under the economic melt down, I was one of the members, three of us Governors, some other members with Mr President [Jonathan] as Chairman.
“I chaired the committee on subsidy and everything about the subsidy regime and then the scam involved was discovered in my committee. Since then recommendations were made which unfortunately were never implemented.
“I’m sad to let Nigerians know that what I saw. We came across situations where subsidy was claimed on pipelines that never existed. They just fill papers, invoices and they claim subsidies on them.
“In fact, there was an instance of a pipeline that was supposed to exist between Lagos and Warri and tons of monies were collected.”
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