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Transparency Issues Persist As Nigerian Oil Company NNPCL Fails To Release 2023 Financial Statements 7 Months Into 2024
The NNPCL only released its 2022 financial statements in January 2024 after facing significant pressure. The Petroleum Industry Act mandates that the NNPCL, as a limited company, must undergo financial audits annually, in line with the Companies and Allied Matters Act.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has not published its financial records for 2023, as the year 2024 draws to a close.
This lack of transparency has sparked concerns about the company’s operations, especially since it became a limited company.
The NNPCL only released its 2022 financial statements in January 2024 after facing significant pressure. The Petroleum Industry Act mandates that the NNPCL, as a limited company, must undergo financial audits annually, in line with the Companies and Allied Matters Act.
Oil revenue is a significant contributor to the Nigerian government’s fiscal intake, serving as a crucial indicator of revenue generation.
The company is an Incorporated Joint Venture owned in the following proportions: Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) (49%), Shell Gas B.V. (25.6%), TotalEnegies Gaz & Electricité Holdings (15%), and Eni International N.A. N.V. S.àr.l (10.4%).
However, the financial performance of the NNPCL remains opaque, with Nigerians unable to access its financial statements and gauge its fiscal health.
Previous financial statements of the NNPC have raised concerns regarding the organisation’s financial management and the stewardship of the country’s oil revenue.
A review of the 2021 financial statement highlighted several issues, including high indebtedness. Notably, the NNPC wrote off debts amounting to N140 billion over a three-year period between 2019 and 2021, raising questions about its financial prudence and revenue management practices.
One of the NNPC subsidiaries gave out loans worth N2 billion to employees despite recording zero profit in 2021.
Previous financial statements reveal that the NNPC has been funding loss-making subsidiaries, raising concerns about its operational efficiency. Additionally, the NNPCL has secured various crude-backed loans, including a $3 billion loan in 2023, the impact of which on the company’s revenue and operations remains unclear.
Furthermore, the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has alleged that the NNPCL failed to remit N2.8 trillion in taxes to the government in 2022, highlighting potential revenue management issues.
While the NNPCL continues to state that it is committed to accountability, experts note that publishing financial statements was a key pointer to such commitment.
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Before final liquidation, NDIC set to auction Heritage bank properties
In a bid to ensure timely declaration of liquidation dividends to uninsured depositors of the failed Heritage Bank (In-Liquidation), the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has commenced the process of auctioning the landed properties and chattels of the defunct bank.
According to the Corporation, this exercise is in line with its statutory powers as the Liquidator of failed banks under section 62 (1)(d) of the NDIC Act, 2023, noting that; “This is another follow-up action sequel to the disposal of physical assets and chattels belonging to the defunct bank at its leased locations nationwide”.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Director, Communication and Public Affairs Department, Bashir A.
Therefore, the auction of the landed assets shall be by competitive bidding in sealed bids scheduled to take place at the six (6) selected locations of the Corporation across the country, for the affected 36 branches of the failed bank beginning from Wednesday 4th December 2024.
“Buyers who wish to participate in the auction are expected to follow laid down guidelines purposely aimed at ensuring transparency, fair competition, equity, and accountability to enable recovery of commensurate values from the exercise. This is critical for the payment of liquidation dividends to eligible claimants.
The Corporation shall give preference to financial institutions who are willing to buy at the highest auctioned value to allow for the continuation of provision of banking services to the Nigerian public at the designated locations”, adding; “This is desirable towards bolstering financial inclusion as envisaged by the financial system regulatory authorities.
“However, Corporate bodies and Private individuals willing to compete are equally eligible to compete in the process without prejudice, the auction shall be open and competitive to all bidders.
Furthermore, bidders will be allowed to inspect the properties and chattels across all locations one week before the date of disposal.”
Importantly too, the statement said; “All interested parties are to make available 10% bid security of the value of their sealed bids to be dropped in the bid box provided at the specific centre out of the six locations of the Corporation as contained in the published advertisements.
“All interested bidders are advised to submit their bids only at the designated NDIC offices covering their choices amongst Abuja, Lagos, Bauchi, Kano, Enugu, and Port Harcourt.”
Meanwhile, the Corporation has vowed that there would be no hiding place for debtors of the defunct Heritage Bank whose financial obligation portfolio is in the region of over N700 billion.
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Naira slumps in parallel market
The Naira experienced a slight depreciation yesterday, slipping to N1,740 per dollar in the parallel market compared to its previous rate of N1,735 per dollar on Tuesday.
According to data from FMDQ, the indicative exchange rate for the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM) strengthened, rising to N1,645.4 per dollar from Tuesday’s rate of N1,689.88 per dollar. This marks an appreciation of N44.48 for the Naira.
The market also saw a significant increase in dollar trading activity, with turnover climbing by 122.5 percent to reach $236.84 million, up from $106.44 million the previous day.
As a result, the gap between the parallel market and the NAFEM exchange rate widened, now standing at N94.6 per dollar, up from N45.12 per dollar recorded on Tuesday.
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Sad! Body of COAS, Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja, ready to be airlifted to Abuja(Photos)
Body of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja, ready to be airlifted to Abuja.
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