The National Economic Council rose from its monthly meeting at the State House, Abuja on Thursday, announcing that some revenue generating agencies are now being probed for remitting dollar revenues in naira into Federal Government coffers.
Some of the agencies are the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Nigerian Port Authority and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency among others.
Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, disclosed the discovery of the fraud while briefing the NEC presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN).
Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, the Cross River State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade, said: “A brief report on the FGN agencies remitting dollar revenues in naira into the Federation Account was also given by the CBN governor.
“He said investigations are ongoing.
“Such agencies include but not limited to NNPC, NIMASA and NPA.”
Prof. Ayade said the affected agencies are already undergoing a separate probe instituted by NEC through its Governor Adams Oshiomhole-led ad hoc committee on remittances by the agencies into the Federation Account.
He said the CBN governor also informed Council that the excess crude account had hit $2.2 billion as at October 15.
Speaking on the provisional loans to states based on collateralisation of the excess crude account, the governor stated that the CBN boss told them that 27 states had made request for the N10 billion facility that was being processed.
They said the affected states had accordingly been advised to complete all necessary documentation to that effect.
Ayade’s words: “It should be recalled at this point in time that not all states have indicated interest on this ECA collaterised loan.”
He also said Osinbaj assured states that had incurred expenses on maintenance of Federal Government roads and adhered to laid down rules would be refunded soon.
Other governors at the post-NEC briefing included Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Darius Ishiaku (Taraba) and Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo).