MDPCO Demands Proof of N250 Billion NLNG Funds Paid to States

The Makinde-Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation (MDPCO) has called on the Nigerian government to provide proof that N250 billion in dividends from the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) has been paid to states. The group is demanding the release of financial records to clarify the situation.

MDPCO is the campaign group for Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo State, who is running for president in 2027, and his running mate, Lawal Daura. They made their request public in Abuja on Sunday, responding to claims from the Presidency regarding the alleged withholding of funds meant for states.

According to MDPCO, the government should publish receipts and official communications that show how much money was received, approved for distribution, and actually paid to the states. They argue that simply citing historical totals of NLNG dividends does not answer whether the specific funds in question were released.

MDPCO insists that Nigerians deserve clear answers to three key questions: how much NLNG paid in dividends during the relevant period, how much was credited to the Federation Account, and how much was approved for distribution to the states. They believe that only official financial records can clarify these issues.

The organisation also challenged the government’s statement that distributing N250 billion to each of the 36 states would total N9 trillion, which they say NLNG has never paid in one go. They argue that this calculation does not address the core issue of the funds in dispute.

Furthermore, MDPCO questioned whether the federal government has the constitutional right to withhold funds that belong to the states. They criticized the Tinubu administration for avoiding accountability and emphasized that seeking transparency about public funds is a civic right.

MDPCO defended Makinde’s approach, stating that he is focused on an issue-based campaign, while accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of using propaganda. They also reiterated Makinde’s view of the Nigerian economy under President Bola Tinubu as a “voodoo economy,” arguing that the government’s claims of improvement do not match the economic struggles faced by citizens.