The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has reacted to the alleged N3.235 trillion that was not remitted to the federation account in 2014.
In a statement released on Wednesday, March 16, by Isiaka Abdulrazaq, Group Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of NNPC, it was revealed that the report of the Auditor-General of the federation (AuGF) on the unremitted money was wrongly conceived.
Isiaka said that it was important to keep intact, the integrity of the corporation and consequently, explain the misconception even though the report is for the 2014 fiscal year.
He said: “The Auditor General of the Federation (AuGF) declared to the National Assembly on the 14th of March 2016 that NNPC has failed to remit the sum of N3.235 trillion to the Federation Account for the period ended 31st December 2014.”
“NNPC wishes to state in strong terms that the AuGF’s declaration is erroneous. It should also be noted that although this period is before the new NNPC management was appointed in August 2015, the management still deems it fit and important to correct any misinformation about the activities of the corporation as this will adversely affect its current and future financial and operational plans if not corrected.”
Isiaka also revealed that when the new NNPC management was appointed, it looked into all legacy claims issues between NNPC and the federation and liaised with the ministry of finance to find a solution to the issues by bringing in appointed forensic auditors to finish up the audits which was previously carried out. The final report of the audit is expected to be ready soon.
“The declaration by the auditor-general may have been borne out of misunderstanding of how revenues from crude oil and gas sales are remitted into the federation account.”
He also stated that the proceed from the sale of crude oil “are remitted to the federation account after deducting the cost associated with the supply and distribution”.
He revealed that the cost incurred include subsidy, crude oil and petroleum product losses, pipeline repairs and maintenance cost.
“The total amount of subsidy that have been approved and certified by PPPRA for the period of January 2012 to December 2014 was N2.34 trillion. An additional N7.96 billion subsidy claim is still under reconciliation.”
“Losses from crude oil and petroleum products as a result of vandalism on its network of pipelines for the period of January 2012 to December 2014 were N202.68 billion.”
“Petroleum Product Strategic Holding Cost and Pipeline Repairs and Maintenance Cost for the period of January 2012 to December 2014 amounted to N358.88 billion.”
“Consequently, the figure owed to the Federation Account as at January 2015 Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting report was N326,142,137,205.7, not the N3.23 trillion alleged by the AuGF.”
