โขSays NNPC probe long overdue
Executive Director of Patriots for Advancement of Peace and Social Development, Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi has called for a comprehensive audit of the Nigerian power sector.
Responding to recent statements by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who suggested $10 billion is needed to ensure 24/7 electricity, Shinkafi, in a recent interview with ARISE NEWS on Thursday, stated, โNigerians are tired of hearing stories, for the past two decades since the inception of our democracy in 1999, more than two trillion us dollars have been injected into the power sector, but the canker-worm, the cancer cell of corruption in the power sector have up till today have nothing to write home about.โ
He advocated for โa forensic audit, forensic accountingโ before any new investments are made to hold individuals accountable for diverted funds.
On the long-standing controversy over unaccounted funds in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Shinkafi was unequivocal in his call for an investigation.
โThe issue of NNPC probe is long overdueโฆ the tax payers money they have been taking saying they will fix refineries, there is series of promises that Port Harcourt refinery will be functional, they are doing turnaround maintenance of Kaduna refinery, Warri refinery, yet nobody sees anything โ we need a total forensic audit of NNPCโs accounts,โ he asserted.
He added that Nigeriaโs dependence on imported fuel and the mismanagement of local refineries have further worsened the economic burden on taxpayers.
Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi also highlighted pressing economic and security challenges in Nigeria, calling for urgent reforms and forensic audits. Shinkafi critiqued President Bola Ahmed Tinubuโs economic policies and called for unity among government officials to tackle insecurity.
Reflecting on President Tinubuโs recent trip to Saudi Arabia, Shinkafi dismissed the comparison made by the Saudi crown prince between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, citing stark economic differences.
โLooking at the micro economic indicators in Nigeria, higher rate of unemployment, basic infrastructure, energy, you canโt compare the kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the Nigerian economy,โ he said, describing Nigeriaโs economic state as one of โstagnation and hardship.โ
Shinkafi further urged the government to prioritise both short- and long-term economic reforms to alleviate the burden on Nigerian citizens.
โThe Nigerian economy needs an urgent economic reforms interventionโฆbecause the suffering Nigerians are suffering, no doubt about it. There is no time to waste, no time to apportion blames,โ he stated.
He acknowledged the challenging economic situation inherited by Tinubuโs administration, but added, โHe has campaigned to be the president of this country, he has no reason to complain, he has to accept the liability of being a president of Nigeria.โ
When asked about tensions between Matawalle and Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, Shinkafi criticised their lack of cooperation as detrimental to local security.
โThey need to come together to fight this insecurity because it is eating every segment of the society in Zamfara state including the neighbouring states,โ Shinkafi said, stressing the urgency of the situation.
โThe issue of insecurity has brought Zamfara state to its knees, all the economic activities are at stagnation point, people cannot go to farm, there is poverty, hunger and disease.โ
Regarding the economic policies under President Tinubu, Shinkafi acknowledged the inflationary effects of subsidy removal and the nairaโs floating exchange rate, but clarified that these policies were partly inherited from the prior administrationโs 2023 budget.
โThe floating of the nairaโฆalso increased the economic hardship,โ he stated, adding that while subsidy removal could be beneficial, โlooking at the removal of subsidy skyrocket the inflation in the history of Nigeria for over four decades.โ
Dr. Shinkafi urged the government to fulfil campaign promises and meet Nigeriansโ high expectations.
โThe government has to sit up and make sure that he fulfil his campaign promises,โ he concluded, pressing for meaningful action on both economic stability and security.
