In a surprising development, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration of spending Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) dividend payments without distributing the funds to state governments.
Makinde made the allegation on Friday during a stakeholders’ consultative engagement on the 2027 budget, held at the Government House, Ibadan. According to a report by Tribune Online, the governor claimed that each state was expected to receive more than ₦250 billion from the NLNG dividends.
Tinubu’s administration has not responded to these allegations, and it remains unclear whether the NLNG dividends have been distributed as expected. However, Makinde’s claims highlight concerns about the distribution of natural resource revenues in Nigeria.
This is not the first time such allegations have been made. In the past, some Nigerian governors and opposition figures have accused the federal government of mismanaging oil and gas revenues. The Niger Delta region, which is home to most of Nigeria’s oil reserves, has been particularly affected by underdevelopment and environmental degradation due to oil exploration activities.
Makinde’s allegations come at a critical time for Tinubu’s administration, which is facing increasing scrutiny over its handling of the economy. The President recently unveiled a ₦25 trillion 2027 budget, which has been met with skepticism by some analysts and opposition figures.
As the debate over resource allocation and economic management continues, Nigerians will be watching closely to see how Tinubu’s administration responds to Makinde’s allegations.
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