N4.5tr spent on fuel subsidy in Nigeria is enough to build new Refineries – NEITI
Facts have emerged that the Federal Government has spent about N4.5 trillion in the last seven years as subsidy on petroleum products imported into the country.
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Extractive Transparency Initiative (NEITI) Zainab Ahmed, who disclosed this in a statement recently, noted the huge amount is good enough to repair the faulty refineries and build new ones.
Zainab emphasised that it was time for the Federal Government to remove oil subsidy, adding that the financial commitment to subsidy has grossly impacted on national purse.
She stated that from the last NEITI Audit Report of 2012, a total of N1,355 trillion was processed for payment as subsidy. Out of this amount, N690 billion was actually paid, putting a debt burden of N665 billion on the Federal Government.
Ahmed added: “From our reports, the amount of money that Nigeria has paid so far on subsidy in the last seven years stand at N4.5 trillion. The breakdown shows that N816,554 billion was paid between 2006 to 2008, N3 trillion between 2009 to 2011 and N690 billion in 2012. We in NEITI believe that this amount is more than enough to repair our refineries or build new ones. NEITI therefore stands firmly with Nigerians who share the fair position that the oil subsidy should be removed”.
Soucre: guardiannews
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