The Nationalists Movement, NM, has backed former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s claims that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, has mismanaged the nation’s refineries.
The Movement, in a statement signed by Elder Ogbor Awuru, on Friday, said Obasanjo’s revelation that over $2 billion has been squandered on the refineries is an indictment of the management of the NNPCL.
Speaking in an interview with Channels Television on Thursday, Obasanjo had expressed doubts over the workability of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, despite announcements by the NNPCL that the oil facilities have resumed operations.
Obasanjo also accused the NNPCL of blocking Aliko Dangote’s $750 million offer for the refineries in 2007.
Obasanjo revealed that his successor, late President Umar Yar’adua, refunded Dangote the $750 million he paid to the Federal Government to manage the refineries on a Public, Private Partnership, PPP, arrangement.
According to Obasanjo, the NNPCL knew that it would not be able to effectively manage the refineries but still informed Yar’Adua that it can operate the facilities, leading to the rejection of Dangote’s offer.
Peoplesmind
