'You lied': Presidency fires back at Makinde over NLNG dividends claim

Nigeria’s Presidency dismissed as false Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s claim that the Federal Government is withholding ₦250 billion in NLNG dividends for each state. In a statement on Sunday, presidential adviser Bayo Onanuga said that paying ₦250 billion to each of the 36 states would total ₦9 trillion and require more than ₦33.68 trillion in dividends paid into the Federation Account. He said NLNG had paid the Federation about $21.5 billion in dividends over 25 years, with less than $3 billion paid since Bola Tinubu took office. Makinde had said at a budget consultation in Ibadan that the funds would not be released until after the 2027 elections.