Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has urged the National Assembly to investigate the alleged secret petrol subsidy payment.
In a statement by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, on Thursday, Atiku urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to demonstrate bravery in taking ownership of its policies and their consequences by being accountable to Nigerians.
On Wednesday, Atiku challenged Tinubu’s administration to cease what he alleges is misleading the public about its stance on petrol subsidy.
He stated that despite Tinubu’s public statements regarding petrol subsidy removal, the administration has been covertly disbursing trillions of naira for petrol subsidy.
Atiku indicated that subsidy payments under Tinubu’s leadership are projected to reach N5.4 trillion this year.
In response, the Presidency has refuted circulating claims that it intends to allocate funds to pay N5.4 trillion for fuel subsidy in 2024.
A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday, reaffirmed the conclusion of the fuel subsidy era.
But responding, Atiku accused the “Bola Tinubu administration of diverting public funds through petrol subsidy, hence the refusal of the government to reveal how much is being spent on subsidy.”
Atiku stated that the alleged covert subsidy scheme was among the factors deterring investments in the oil sector.
“Both the World Bank and the IMF have revealed in separate reports that Nigeria is still paying petrol subsidies, but the Tinubu government refuses to come clean. Even a senior member of the APC had revealed that the subsidy was being paid.
“For a man who claims to be on a mission to attract foreign direct investment, it is ironic that he cannot see that his policy flip-flops and lies are capable of dissuading investors. He must come clean on this subsidy issue since he doubles as a petroleum minister. The Tinubu administration should be courageous enough to own their policies and outcome with their full chest and responsible enough to be accountable for their actions to Nigerians,” the statement reads in part.
