Makinde Exposes N250bn NLNG Money Tinubu Government 'Cornered' From States

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has accused the Tinubu administration of cornering over N250 billion in Nigeria LNG dividends that should have gone to each state of the federation. He said the money was paid into the Federation Account, the figures were reconciled, and then the Federal Government spent it alone without sharing a kobo with the states.

Makinde spoke on Friday at a stakeholders' meeting on the 2027 budget at the International Conference Centre in Ibadan, and he did not mince words. "They fooled us. The Nigeria LNG paid dividends to the Federal Government, which went straight into the Federation Account, but they spent it," he said. "Each state should receive more than N250 billion but Tinubu cornered it. We were planning towards this, identified projects that we can invest the money in to further expand the economy of Oyo State."

So Oyo and every other state have been planning projects around money that was already spent in Abuja. Makinde also faulted any plan to delay the payment until after the 2027 elections, asking why the welfare of Nigerians should come second to politics. If the figures were reconciled and the money entered the Federation Account, who authorised the spending, and will the states ever see their share?