Obasanjo and Jonathan
It said from verifiable facts, it was clear that Nigeria’s reserves were not squandered but used appropriately in the course of normal transactions required for the development of the Nigerian economy.
Allegations that the Jonathan administration has frittered away the reserves and the ECA have been rife by opposition party members and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, among other critics, particularly since the prices of oil began a precipitous journey south.
But in a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry of Finance said it was absolutely untrue that the Jonathan has squandered the nation’s reserves, adding that the facts are clear and indisputable.
“At the end of May 2007, Nigeria’s gross reserves stood at $43.13 billion – comprising the CBN’s external reserves of $31.5 billion, $9.43 billion in the Excess Crude Account, and $2.18 billion in Federal Government’s savings. These figures can be independently verified from the CBN’s records. The figure of $67 billion cited in some recent commentary is therefore factually incorrect.
“This statement is issued to, once again, clarify the facts of the recent history and status of Nigeria’s Excess Crude Account and foreign reserves, an issue that is, in this election season, gaining more headline attention. Because of the importance of this key economic indicator, we believe it is important to restate the true position in the interest of the Nigerian public as well as local and international investors.
“It is a misconception to think that reserves are immutable or cast in stone. The reality is that since May 2007, the reserves have fluctuated in line with developments in the international oil market, rising from $43.13 billion at that time, peaking at $62 billion in September 2008 during the Yar’Adua/Jonathan Administration when oil prices reached a peak of $147 per barrel, and falling subsequently to a low of $31.7 billion in September 2011″
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