Group raises concerns over ‘disguised fuel subsidy payments’

The Concerned Citizens of Nigeria, a civil society organisation, has raised concerns over what it described as “disguised fuel subsidy payments”.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, Okwa Dan, the group’s national coordinator, asked the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to provide full transparency on fuel importation and alleged subsidy payments, despite the recent fixing of local refineries.

The group condemned the “continued importation of fuel” while Dangote Refinery is producing and exporting refined petroleum.

Dan questioned the reported plans of the NNPCL to import one million tons of fuel in February, despite local refining capacity.

The group said there should not be any form of “disguised subsidy payments” with the official removal of subsidies by the Tinubu administration.

The Concerned Citizens urged the government to buy from Dangote Refinery to save forex, strengthen the local economy, and reduce inflationary pressure instead of weakening the naira with unnecessary imports.

The group stressed that the time for “deception and economic waste” is over. They urged President Tinubu to act decisively, end fuel importation, support local refining, and protect Nigeria’s economic interests.