ANALYSIS: How President Buhari lied to Nigerians during Arise TV interview 

One thing President Muhammadu Buhari is notorious for is his failure to grant interviews. When Nigerians are not addressed by Femi Adesina, his second in command, Garba Shehu always have the centre stage. 

When the matters to be addressed are hightly controversial, the minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed takes the lead. These trio are the mouthpiece of President Buhari.  

NEWS DIRECT understands that on several occasions, Nigerians have had the need to wonder whether the president is aware of the ills and odds in the land. 

The only time Mr Buhari speaks to the nation are on significant days such as Independence Day, New Year Day and Democracy Day among others. 

Like the rainbow, President Buhari made a rare media appearance last week but did not shine like the rainbow does. Despite the fact that last Thursday interview with Arise Television was not live, the number citizen of Nigeria still goofed. 

He repeated his old lies on the successes of his administration in last six years. On his failures, Mr Buhari blamed the PDP’s 16-year-rule for the decadence in the nation. 

Speaking further, Mr Buhari said “I would like you to check how much we are earning from 1999 to 2014. From 1999 to 2014, our production (if you check you will find out that) every production was 2.1 million barrels per day. At the cost of 100 American dollars per barrel. So, from 1999 to 2014, we were earning 2.1 million times 100 dollar per day,” he told the Arise Television crew on Thursday. 

But that is a big lie. 

From records of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as quoted by Statista, in 1999, the average annual price of crude oil was about $17.4 per barrel. It was $27.6 in 2000, $23.1 in 2001, $24.3 in 2002, $28.1 in 2003 and in 2004, it was $36.5. Oil sold for $50.5 per barrel in 2005, $61 in 2006, $69 in 2007, $94.1 in 2008, $60.8 in 2009 and in 2010, oil price was $77.3.

In 2011, the average annual price of oil had gotten to a record high of $107 per barrel, increasing to $109 per barrel in 2012, $105.8 in 2013 and $96.2 in 2014.

The average oil price between 1999 and 2014 is $61.7 per barrel. 

This data is a far cry from an average of $100 per barrel President Buhari had claimed in his interview. 

NEWS DIRECT on Tuesday reached out to presidential spokespersons, Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu but they did not respond to calls and texts sent to their phones seeking their comments for this report.