BOLAJI ADELAJA
In a strongly worded assertion launched at this time, former presidential candidate and outstanding political determine, Peter Obi, has condemned what he describes because the institutionalized criminality of Nigeria’s governance, following alarming revelations from the Senate’s assessment of the Nigerian Nationwide Petroleum Company’s (NNPC) audited accounts.
The Senate investigation uncovered a staggering ₦210 trillion in {financial} irregularities inside the NNPC from 2017 to 2023. This contains ₦103 trillion in undocumented “accrued bills” and an extra ₦107 trillion in unaccounted “receivables”, all missing correct documentation, accountability, or penalties
“It’s with the utmost disappointment that I as soon as once more reaffirm what I’ve constantly mentioned: Nigeria has turn out to be a criminal offense scene,” Obi mentioned in his assertion.
“This isn’t simply one other scandal. It’s a clear and damning affirmation of a nation held hostage by monumental corruption.”
Obi in contrast the alleged discrepancies to Nigeria’s whole nationwide budgets over the identical interval, which amounted to ₦88.01 trillion, and fewer than half of the {financial} irregularities at the moment are below scrutiny.
Finances Figures (2017–2023):
2017: ₦7.440 trillion
2018: ₦9.120 trillion
2019: ₦8.916 trillion
2020: ₦9.974 trillion (revised resulting from COVID)
2021: ₦13.588 trillion
2022: ₦17.130 trillion
2023: ₦21.830 trillion
Complete: ₦88.010 trillion
“It is a felony, institutionalised betrayal of the Nigerian folks and a grave menace to the way forward for the society our youngsters will dwell in,” Obi continued.
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He urged Nigerians and stakeholders to confront what he described as “criminality masquerading as governance,” insisting that the nation can’t proceed on this path and anticipate real progress.
“No accountable nation can proceed to perform like this with out confronting this reality,” he warned.
“This criminality masquerading as governance have to be stopped and dismantled for a greater Nigeria. A brand new Nigeria is feasible.”
The NNPC is but to situation an official response to the Senate’s findings or Obi’s assertion.
