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The Presidency has dismissed Governor Seyi Makinde’s claim that the Nigerian Government is withholding ₦250 billion in Nigeria LNG (NLNG) dividends for each state until after the 2027 elections.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the claim as false and urged the public to disregard it.
Makinde made the claim on Friday during the 2027 Budget Stakeholders’ Consultative Engagement at the Olola Ogunlana Hall, International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan. The governor said the funds would help states finance projects to grow their economies. He also alleged that the Nigerian Government had spent the money and would not release it until after the 2027 elections.
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“Each state was supposed to get ₦250 billion. We had already identified projects that would expand Oyo State’s economy. But they have now said the money will not be paid until after the election. Is the election more important than the people of Nigeria?” Makinde said.
However, the Presidency argued that the figures did not support the governor’s claim. Onanuga said paying ₦250 billion to each of Nigeria’s 36 states would amount to ₦9 trillion in a single distribution. This figure excludes the Nigerian Government, the FCT, and the 774 local government councils.
He explained that states receive 26.72 per cent of distributable revenue from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC). Based on this formula, he said, total NLNG dividends paid into the Federation Account would have to exceed ₦33.68 trillion, or about $25 billion, for the states to receive ₦9 trillion.
According to the Presidency, NLNG has never paid $25 billion in dividends into the Federation Account in a single payout. Onanuga added that NLNG had paid about $21.5 billion in dividends to the Federation over the past 25 years. He said the Federation had received less than $3 billion since President Bola Tinubu took office.
“NLNG has never paid $25 billion in dividends to the Federation Account in a single payout. NLNG and Historical Dividend Context: NLNG has paid approximately $21.5 billion in dividends to the Federation over the last 25 years, with less than $3 billion realised since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office,” it read.
The presidential aide argued that the claim of a single dividend payout exceeding the company’s total historical payments to the Federation was inconsistent with the figures provided. He also criticised Makinde’s public statements, accusing him of making misleading claims since announcing his presidential ambition.
Onanuga recalled that the governor had previously described the large inflows from the Federation Account to states, including Oyo, as “voodoo”. The Presidency said Makinde was free to pursue his presidential ambition but urged him to avoid statements it considered false or misleading.
“Under Nigerian law, Governor Makinde is free to pursue his presidential ambition. He should desist from making falsehoods and disinformation the hallmarks of his campaign,” the statement read.
It also called on Nigerians to disregard the claim, saying it could mislead citizens and create unnecessary tension between the public and the Nigerian Government.
STATEHOUSE PRESS STATEMENT
PRESIDENCY RESPONDS TO GOVERNOR MAKINDE’S CLAIM ON NLNG DIVIDENDS
The Presidency wishes to clarify Governor Seyi Makinde’s claim that the Federal Government is withholding ₦250 billion in NLNG dividends for each state of the Federation.
At the 2027 Budget Stakeholders’ Consultative Engagement held at the Olola Ogunlana Hall, International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, on Friday, Makinde claimed the funds would not be released until after the 2027 elections. He further claimed that the Federal Government had spent the money.
“Each state was supposed to get ₦250 billion. We had already identified projects that would expand Oyo State’s economy. But they have now said the money will not be paid until after the election. Is the election more important than the people of Nigeria?” the governor said.
Makinde’s latest claim that the Federal Government is withholding the NLNG dividend windfall is false and should be disregarded.
Here are the facts the public should know about how the Federation Account is managed and how money is shared among the three tiers of government. Even as a one-off distribution, ₦250 billion to each of the 36 states amounts to ₦9.0 trillion, excluding the Federal Government, the FCT, and the 774 local councils.
Under the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) formula, states receive 26.72% of the distributable Federation Account revenue. For the states’ share alone to reach ₦9 trillion, total NLNG dividends paid into the Federation Account would have to exceed ₦33.68 trillion (about $25 billion) in a single declaration.
NLNG has never paid $25 billion in dividends to the Federation Account in a single payout.
NLNG and Historical Dividend Context:
NLNG has paid approximately $21.5 billion in dividends to the Federation over the last 25 years, with less than $3 billion realised since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office.
Therefore, any claim that a single payout exceeds the company’s entire lifetime distribution to the Federation—and is being withheld—defies basic logic and economic reality.
We expect Governor Makinde to be more measured in his public conduct and utterances. Since he embarked on his presidential bid, he has chosen to play politics by making misleading claims rather than presenting verifiable facts. Indeed, he has turned false, unguarded statements and claims into an art form.
He once described the huge financial flow from the federation account to states, including Oyo, as ‘voodoo’.
Under Nigerian law, Governor Makinde is free to pursue his presidential ambition. He should desist from making falsehoods and disinformation the hallmarks of his campaign.
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We urge the public to disregard these unfounded claims, which serve only to mislead citizens and stoke needless disaffection against the Federal authorities.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information and Strategy)
October 18, 2026— Bayo Onanuga, OON, CON (@aonanuga1956) October 18, 2026
