The Nigeria Kerosine SCANDAL!!!

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-26535530

You only have to ask one question to discover that millions of people are being ripped off: "How much do you pay for your kerosene?"

"Sometimes 140 naira a litre or 160 naira ($0.85 to $0.97)," Alimatu tells me as she tops up her small stove in a cramped alleyway that serves as her kitchen in the lively Lagos suburb of Obalende.

Preparing a fiery fish pepper soup, Alimatu adds that it is a major part of her expenditure.

"If all the children are at home, I finish this five-litre can in just three days."

She is unaware that due to a government subsidy on kerosene it is supposed to be available for around 40 naira a litre.

The state oil company has been billing the treasury to recoup the money it spends subsidising the price of kerosene. But why are Nigerians not getting it at the cheaper price?

The Central Bank report suggests that, by not passing on the benefit to the consumers, a consortium has been collecting $100m a month in a scam.

At the parliamentary hearing, Oil Minister Diezani Alison Madueke and state oil company officials denied allegations of malpractice and said all the "missing" money would be accounted for.

But when Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala stated that the kerosene subsidy was not provided for in the country's budget, the alarm bells went up a few decibels.

In a BBC interview I asked Mrs Okonjo-Iweala how it could be that as much $100m a month in the kerosene subsidy had not been budgeted for.It wasn't budgeted for and that's all I have to tell you. The subsidy was deducted at source by the NNPC. We didn't budget for it," she said, stating that a forensic audit was needed.

"Let us look at the amounts and the reasons being advanced for how much is missing. Audit that process. Audit what the NNPC is saying it used the money for and establish legitimately what is the shortfall."

This latest oil corruption scandal has led to some Nigerians saying enough is enough. Social media has been abuzz with cries of: "Where is our 20 billion?" A few dozen men and women have been arranging to meet to strategise on how they can help push for answers and accountability.

"OK, so I'm buying kerosene for 130 naira and [in reality] there is no subsidy - it's cool with me," says social commentator Babatunde Rosanwo.

"But the fact that you get to find out that someone is actually taking money on your behalf for what you are not benefitting from - it is just like somebody collecting social benefits in the name of the citizens.

"It's a foolery that somebody sits somewhere and is taking a chunk of the treasury in our names. That is the message the citizens need to get this time around."

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