Presidency Rejects Makinde’s Claim of FG Withholding ₦250bn NLNG Dividend Windfall
The Presidency has dismissed a claim by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde that the Federal Government is withholding ₦250 billion in dividend windfall from the Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), describing the allegation as false and misleading.
The Presidency urged Makinde to provide verifiable facts to support his claim, insisting that the amount he referenced was inconsistent with the company’s historical dividend distributions to the Federation.
In a statement, the Presidency criticised the governor’s public comments, accusing him of making misleading claims since embarking on his presidential ambition ahead of the 2027 general election.
“Therefore, any claim that a single payout exceeds the company’s entire lifetime distribution to the Federation—and is being withheld—defies basic logic and economic reality,” the statement said.
Presidency Accuses Makinde of Making Misleading Claims
The Presidency said Makinde should be more careful with his public statements, particularly as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 elections.
It accused the governor of using claims it described as misleading for political purposes rather than presenting verifiable evidence.
“We expect Governor Makinde to be more measured in his public conduct and utterances. Since he embarked on his presidential bid, he has chosen to play politics by making misleading claims rather than presenting verifiable facts,” the statement read.
The Presidency also referred to Makinde’s previous description of the large financial allocations flowing from the Federation Account to states, including Oyo State, as “voodoo”.
Presidency Urges Public to Disregard Claim
While acknowledging Makinde’s right to pursue his presidential ambition, the Presidency urged him to avoid statements it considers false or misleading.
“We urge the public to disregard these unfounded claims, which serve only to mislead citizens and stoke needless disaffection against the Federal authorities,” the statement added.
The dispute adds to the political exchanges ahead of the 2027 general election, with economic management and the distribution of public revenue likely to remain important issues in the campaign.
The Presidency’s response represents its position on the allegation. The details of Makinde’s original claim and the underlying NLNG dividend figures would need to be independently verified to establish the full circumstances surrounding the ₦250 billion amount.
