Reports in some domestic media today which quoted President Goodluck Jonathan as "confirming" in Amsterdam that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) wrongly withheld $10 Billion from the federation account are completely false and a total distortion of the President's comments during his meeting with the Nigerian community in the Netherlands.
At no time during the well-attended reception did President Jonathan also confirm any "irregularities" in the NNPC.
Sensational reports in the
media to that effect are reckless, mischievous and unprofessional
misrepresentations of the President's restatement to the Nigerian community of
the Federal Government's position on the allegation that $20 Billion is
"missing" from the NNPC or the Federation Account, by reporters who
were not at the event or even in Holland at all.
President Jonathan's verifiable
words while responding to questions from members of the community on the
allegation and other domestic issues were clear and unambiguous.
After asserting that allegation
that various sums - $49.8 Billion, $12 Billion or $20 Billion - were missing are
inconsistent and lacked credence, the President's exact words were as follows:
"As at the time, the Finance Ministry was saying
they had not been able to reconcile only 10 billion dollars. There are issues
in NNPC but we are on it."
President Jonathan went
on to say that to reassure Nigerians of his administration's continued commitment to
openness, transparency and probity in the aftermath of the unsubstantiated
allegations, the Federal Government had authorised a professional forensic
audit of NNPC accounts to clear the air.
The Presidency deplores the mischievous and
unethical distortion of his comments in the media today.
Once again, we urge the media
to show greater regard for truth and accuracy when reporting on the President.
Reuben
Abati
Special
Adviser to the President
(Media
& Publicity)
March
25, 2014
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