Business
Fuel Subsidy; Tinubu’s Administration Lack Transparency, Atiku
The former vice president said in a statement, “The latest revelations circulating through credible media outlets regarding the federal government’s covert continuation of the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) represent another chapter in the opaque governance under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
FG
“This development starkly contrasts with the president’s firm assertions in a national broadcast, which followed closely on the heels of public protests decrying poor governance, where he declared the subsidy regime concluded.
“However, disclosures prior to his announcement have consistently indicated a resurgence of subsidy payments, albeit through less transparent means.”
According to Atiku, “This dissonance between the president’s words and his actions not only undermines the moral fabric of his leadership but also significantly erodes the credibility of his administration.
“At a time when the nation grapples with severe fuel scarcity and escalating energy costs, the continued delays in the re-operation of the Port Harcourt refinery stand as a national disgrace — a failure that rests firmly on the shoulders of President Tinubu, who also holds the office of the Minister of Petroleum Resources.”
Atiku also said, “The persistent denials by NNPC Limited only exacerbate the plight of Nigerians, who endure severe difficulties due to fuel shortages and resultant price inflations.”
He explained that amid a contentious dispute between local investors favouringrefinery operations and those advocating imported PMS, the president’s silence was profoundly disconcerting.
“The veil of secrecy shrouding the downstream petroleum sector, coupled with alarming reports of NNPC Limited diverting funds intended for other purposes to cover subsidy payments, adds layers of confusion that are unbearably unsettling.
“If these reports hold true, they portend grave implications for the integrity of our fiscal federalism. It is imperative, therefore, that the Tinubu administration urgently clarify the entanglements surrounding the subsidy policy and the refining of PMS.”
Tinubu gives NNPC go-ahead to spend federation’s dividend to offset subsidy backlog
Despite persistent denial, President Bola Tinubu approved a request by Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to spend the 2023 final dividends due to the federation to pay for petrol subsidy, TheCable reported yesterday.
Tinubu also gave the go-ahead for the suspension of the payment of 2024 interim dividends to the federation in order to augment NNPC’s cash flow, the report added.
But NNPCL insisted yesterday that it was not paying subsidy, but only interfacing with the federal government to manage petrol importation and sorting out differentials when necessary.
Chief Financial Officer of the national oil company, Umar Ajiya, said yesterday in Abuja, “In the last eight or nine years, this company or corporation, as it was, has not paid anybody a dime or N1 as subsidy. No one has been paid a kobo by the NNPC in the name of subsidy and no marketer has received money from us by way of subsidy.
“What has been happening is that we have been importing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or petrol, which is landing at a certain cost price, and government is telling us to sell at half price. The difference between that landing price and pump price is what we call shortfall or you call it subsidy.
“And the deal is between the federation and ourselves to reconcile and sometimes they give us money, sometimes we make up.”
But the report pointed out that in addition, the national oil company told the president it will not be able to remit taxes and royalties to the federation account for now because of the subsidy payments, which it termed “subsidy shortfall/FX differential”.
The report said the cumulative petrol subsidy bill from August 2023 will hit N6.884 trillion by December 2024 — leaving NNPCL unable to remit N3.987 trillion in taxes and royalties to the federation account.
It said NNPCL was expected to pause the payment of interim dividends for eight months this year — from May to December.
Interim dividends — based on inflow projections — are usually remitted monthly into the federation account and shared by the three tiers of government, while the final dividends are paid at the end of the year after reconciliation.
Under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), NNPCL is obligated to pay taxes and royalties as well as dividends to the federation, its sole shareholder.
In June 2024, NNPCL, the report said, cried out to Tinubu that the subsidy payments were negatively impacting its cash flow and it was struggling to remain a “going concern”.
The company said it might not be able to sustain petrol imports because of the ballooning subsidy bill, which it blamed on “forex pressure”.
Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, was said to have informed the president that when subsidy was removed in June 2023, it led to monthly savings of N400 billion to the federation.
Kyari said that enabled the company to remit its taxes and royalties totalling N2.032 trillion into a sequestered account at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as at January 2024.
He said the development was short-lived with the devaluation of the naira, which led to month-on-month escalation in the NAFEX exchange rate.
In August 2023, NNPCL moved from surplus to negative in fuel importation costs, incurring a subsidy bill of N52.73 billion, the report revealed.
That increased to N57.59 billion in September and N212.28 billion in October, before ballooning to N665.60 billion in November, when exchange rate had more than doubled from the time subsidy was removed, TheCable report added.
The bill fell slightly to N537.66 billion in December before hitting a new high of N693.67 billion in January 2024.
According to the report, “The bill dropped to N592.09 billion the following month and N497.39 billion in March before rising again to N833.68 billion in April, forcing Kyarito send an SOS to the president.
“He said the situation had continued to exert ‘undue pressure’ on the NNPC, leading to its inability to remit royalties and taxes into the federation account.
“Kyari further said national energy security was being threatened as the NNPC might not be able to sustain petrol imports beyond July 2024.”
In making his case to the president, Kyari was reported to have said NNPC had implemented a number of strategies between August 2023 and April 2024 but the situation was getting out of hand.
The strategies included improving oil production by fighting theft and vandalism, debt rescheduling/forward sales, payment deferrals to suppliers and contractors, deferrals of non-critical projects, and debt recovery.
However, the situation was still not looking good, as projections showed a consistent increase in cash flow deficit, mainly because of the exchange rate.
Whereas an estimated N3.987 trillion in taxes and royalties will be due the federation account by December 2024, NNPCL said it will still be owed N2.897 trillion after reconciliation of its obligations and subsidy shortfall.
Kyari was said to have requested that Tinubu should approve the utilisation of the final dividends due the federation for 2023 and deferment of the remaining interim dividends for 2024 to defray the subsidy costs.
“The president approved Kyari’s request on June 6, 2024,” the report said.
The situation was made worse because when petrol subsidy was removed in June 2023, the exchange rate was N463/$, but now about N1,500/$, while crude oil prices had also been high, making it a “double whammy” for NNPCL.
Kingdom Men Global Network aka KMEN has formally announced the programmes of the 13th edition of its flagship annual gathering for men, Mega Summit.
This year’s event will open on Thursday May 14 and end on Sunday May 17 with an all-men musical concert.
The 2026 edition of Mega Summit which will hold at the Presken Hotels on Alade Avenue opposite Airport Hotel, Ikeja Lagos has as theme: Legacy…Faith. Family. Community. And for the first time Mega Summit will host an award on the opening day in memory of foremost Nigerian diplomat and integrity personified and pioneer Chairman of the Board of Trustee of KMEN, late Dr Christopher Kolade who died last year at the age of 92.
The KMEN-Christopher Kolade – Men in Leadership Award for Courageous Manhood will be heralded by the Men in Leadership Summit (MiLEADS) with the sub-theme – Building a Culture of Leadership with Integrity. And will have as speakers Archbishop John Osa-Oni of Vineyard Christian Ministries., Pastor Tunde Bakare of The Citadel Global Community Church, and renowned Pharmacist, entrepreneur and politician Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, OFR.
Pastor Tunde Bakare
Day two will feature another special session for Men in Church Leadership (MiCLEADS) with the sub-theme: Leaving a Legacy of Faith/Discipling for the Next Generation, and will have as speakers Bishop Sunday Onadipe, Bishop, Methodist Church of Nigeria, Diocese of Badagry, Apostle Eyinnaya Okwuonu, former Chairman of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Lagos Chapter., Pastor Dominion Roberts from Liberia, and Rev Fr Matthew Ogunyase of the Catholic Mission, Lagos.
While day three will open with a Special Town Hall discussion on Family with the sub-theme – The Father’s Role in Shaping Legacy and is the only mixed gender panel for Mega Summit 2026 featuring foremost life change coach, Mrs. Yemisi Lagunju and Rev David Abraham, who is the managing director of Managing Business for Christ (MBFC).
On Saturday is a Special Town Hall on Resisting an Emerging Legacy of Addictions. This segment will feature a presentation by Dr Dokun Adedeji on the ravage of Drug Addictions, alongside Abiose Akolade Ladipo, Co-Founder of GamblePause, a Lagos-based NGO in the fight against Gambling Addictions.
Later in the afternoon on Saturday is a second Town Hall session on Business and Economy with the sub-theme: Building Sustainable/Generational Businesses, and will feature notable panelists like Rev Professor Biodun Adedipe Founder of BA and Associates, and Rev Dr Abba Peter, Managing Director of Best Practices Limited, among others.Other Town Hall segments at Mega Summit 2026 include that on Politics/Governance with the sub-theme: Swimming Against the Tide – National Transformation through Service, and another Town Hall on Media featuring Mr. Mustapha Isah Osikhekha, former President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Omoba Deji Irawo and others as they navigate best way to Reclaim the Narrative: Legacy in Digital Spaces.
An extra-ordinary edition, the 13th edition of Mega Summit will also have segments designed to equip leaders in men’s ministry through the instrument of KMEN’s School of Men’s Ministry/ISI Training. Each day of Mega Summit 2026 is divided into three segments – morning starting at 9 am, afternoon session and evening climaxing with an impartation service.KMEN is an uncompromisingly Bible-based, independent ministry to men. Established nearly two decades ago, the ministry’s objective is to assist men, irrespective of their church affiliations, in their Christian Walk, that they may become better sons, brothers, husbands, fathers and leaders.
The Ikeja Electric Plc has given reasons for the ongoing power outages experienced by cudtomers, attributing the situation to reduced electricity allocation from the national grid.
In a statement posted on its X handle at , the company apologized for the disruption, noting that some parts of its network were experiencing supply constraints due to reduced power allocation from the grid.
It added that, to manage the shortfall and maintain grid stability, it had introduced temporary load shedding across affected feeders.
The Ikeja Electricity company said as part of efforts to maintain grid stability and ensure equitable distribution of available power, temporary load shedding is being implemented across affected feeders and locations. The company said it was working with relevant stakeholders to improve supply and minimise the impact on customers.
The latest notice follows months of unstable electricity supply in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria, driven largely by a drop in generation linked to gas shortages.
Wema Bank Plc is celebrating the 9th anniversary of ALAT by Wema, Africa’s first fully digital bank, marking nine years of transforming how Nigerians experience banking.
Launched in 2017, ALAT by Wema was introduced as a bold response to the limitations of traditional banking, long queues, physical barriers, and slow processes. By eliminating these constraints, Wema Bank redefined banking as a fully digital, instant, and accessible experience, enabling customers to open accounts, transact, and manage their finances seamlessly from anywhere.
Over the past nine years, ALAT has evolved beyond convenience into a comprehensive digital ecosystem designed to meet the changing needs of individuals, businesses, and a new generation of financially aware users. From enabling structured savings through features like ALAT Goals to simplifying payments and expanding access to financial services, the platform has consistently delivered solutions that empower users and drive financial inclusion at scale.
This journey of continuous innovation has positioned ALAT not just as a digital banking product, but as a platform that adapts, grows, and evolves alongside its users.
To commemorate this milestone, Wema Bank has launched the ALAT at 9 campaign, a series of customer-focused activities, rewards, and interactive experiences designed to celebrate users while deepening engagement.
As part of the anniversary celebration, customers can access their personalized ALAT Wrapped, offering a simple, visual summary of their journey on the platform, which can be downloaded and shared across social media.
Customers can also participate in the 9 Features in 9 Days experience by engaging with a designated feature each day. Completing all nine activities unlocks rewards, encouraging consistent and active use of the platform.
In addition, customers who complete their 9th transaction at exactly 9:00am or 9:00pm will receive instant rewards.
The celebration also features the ALAT Evolution Jingle Challenge, inviting customers to create and submit the second verse of the ALAT jingle for a chance to win rewards.
Speaking on the milestone celebration, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Wema Bank, Moruf Oseni, said;
“ALAT at 9 is not just a celebration of time. It is a reflection of how far we have come and a clear indication of where we are going. Over the years, we have continued to evolve with our customers, building a platform that is not only functional but also engaging and rewarding. This campaign is designed to give back to our users while reinforcing our commitment to innovation and customer experience.”
Also commenting, Chief Digital Officer of Wema Bank, Olusegun Adeniyi, noted that the anniversary campaign was designed to merge everyday banking with meaningful engagement.
“With ALAT at 9, we are transforming routine banking into an interactive experience. By combining personalized insights, gamified missions, and real rewards, we are creating a platform that responds to users in a more dynamic and rewarding way. This reflects our vision to build a digital bank that is intuitive, adaptive, and centered around the customer,” he said.
The anniversary activities will run from May 2 to May 31stwith customers encouraged to log into the ALAT app to participate, complete tasks, and unlock rewards.
Existing customers can access the experience by updating the ALAT app via the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and signing in with their existing details. New customers can download the app and get started in minutes to enjoy the full range of features and anniversary benefits.
With ALAT at 9, Wema Bank continues to reinforce its leadership in digital banking, delivering not just financial services, but a platform that continue to evolve with its users and rewards them at every stage of their journey.
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