Nigeria's state oil firm is insolvent, unable to pay debts of $5bn (£3.3bn), a government minister has said.
Junior Finance Minister Remi Babalola said the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation had asked for help to cover its debts and fund its operations.
But the NNPC denied the claim and said the government was not paying its own debts to the firm.
Nigeria is a major crude oil producer and exporter but must import refined oil to meet its domestic needs.
