Lagos — The World Bank has revealed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, remitted only 50 percent of revenue gains from the removal of the Premium Motor Spirit subsidy to the country’s Federation Account.
The World Bank made the disclosure in its latest Nigeria Development Update released on Monday.
It said out of the N1.1tn revenue from crude sales and other income in 2024, the NNPCL only remitted N600bn, leaving a deficit of N500bn unaccounted for.
The report, titled “Building Momentum for Inclusive Growth,” disclosed that the NNPCL used the remaining amount to settle its debt arrears.
The World Bank report disclosed that the NNPCL delayed the transfer of the associated revenue windfall and only commenced remittances to the Federation Account after three months, that is, in January 2025.
The World Bank disclosed that the NNPCL has since been remitting only half of the proceeds, with the remainder reportedly used to offset legacy arrears.
The World Bank noted that the Federal Government’s revenues for 2025 are anticipated to be 70 per cent from oil and 30 per cent from non-oil sources, assuming there is full remittance of the fiscal savings from PMS subsidy removal.
“The fiscal outlook remains cautiously optimistic but hinges on the necessary consolidation of recent advances. First, it is essential to ensure that the full revenue gains from the removal of the PMS subsidy—estimated at 2.6 per cent of GDP in 2024—are transferred to the Federation.
“Despite the subsidy being fully removed in October 2024, NNPCL started transferring the revenue gains to the Federation only in January 2025. Since then, it has been remitting only 50 per cent of these gains, using the rest to offset past arrears,” the World Bank stated.
The World Bank attributed this drop to the implicit subsidy regime that persisted until the third quarter of 2024.
While other FX-denominated revenue sources, such as oil royalties, taxes, and customs duties, recorded significant increases, the report noted that NNPCL remained the major laggard in remitting revenues to the Federation Account Allocation Committee.
“However, NNPCL was the only laggard, remitting just N0.6tn to FAAC in 2024, down from N1.1tn in 2023, largely due to the implicit PMS subsidy, which remained in place until the end of September 2024. Although the subsidy was fully removed on October 1, 2024, NNPCL did not start transferring the resulting revenue gains to the Federation until January 2025. From that point, it began remitting 50 per cent, with the other half being used to settle past arrears.
As of February 2025, the bank noted that NNPCL’s claimed arrears stood at N7.8tn, while the Federation’s claims totaled N6.1tn, leaving net arrears of N1.7tn still owed to the national oil company.
“In spite of a sharp rise in gross revenues by the country’s main revenue-generating agencies from N16.5tn in 2023 to N29.5tn in 2024, NNPCL’s remittance fell to N600bn in 2024, down from N1.1tn in the previous year.”
To enhance fiscal discipline, the World Bank recommended a forensic audit of NNPCL’s finances and the adoption of standardised reporting templates to FAAC.
It also called for improved transparency in oil revenue accounting and stronger public financial management systems.
The World Bank warned that unless full subsidy gains are channeled into the Federation Account, Nigeria’s fiscal consolidation efforts may be undermined, limiting the government’s ability to invest in infrastructure and social development.
The report stressed the need to resolve net arrears and ensuring full remittance of subsidy savings are critical for maintaining fiscal stability.
“The fiscal outlook remains cautiously optimistic but hinges on the necessary consolidation of recent advances.”
“It is essential to ensure that the full revenue gains from the removal of the PMS subsidy—estimated at 2.6 per cent of GDP in 2024—are transferred to the Federation.”
“Resolving any remaining net arrears and channeling the full benefits of subsidy reform to the Federation is critical for sound fiscal management.
“Improve public finance management. Revenues are still low, constraining development spending. Ensure that revenue gains from the removal of the PMS subsidy flow to the Federation.
