The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Adewole Adebayo has accused the federal government of being behind oil theft in Nigeria.
Mr. Adebayo made the accusation Monday while addressing legal practitioners at the 62nd edition of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Conference in Lagos.
He said the government diverts over 80% of Nigeria’s crude and blames militants for the theft.
“Five months ago, I began a solo shout that 80% of our crude oil was being stolen. I did an investigation. Nobody was listening but I kept talking about it until after four months the government said it’s only 75%,” he said.
“What they have not told you is who is stealing it, and it’s not stolen by militants or bandits. They cannot make that (statement).
“It is being stolen by the government, and it’s a fact I can take anywhere. And there are two ways by which the government is stealing it.
“There has always been this opaque part of non-OPEC oil which people used to sell, but there’s a second part which is that people in government have decided that they will sell the oil offshore and money will never be for Nigeria.”
Mr. Adebayo and other presidential candidates for the 2023 General Election were invited to speak at the NBA conference.
