Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has challenged President Bola Tinubu to open the financial books of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to explain the ₦11.2 trillion claim for pipeline protection and other advances.
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) raised alarms over figures in the NNPCL’s recent financial records, which the company recorded roughly ₦17.5 trillion in 2024 and ₦11.2 trillion in 2025 as receivables from the Federation, a large portion of which includes the cost of protecting oil and gas assets.
Atiku stated that while the Ministry of Defence received about ₦3.1 trillion in 2025 to secure the entire country, the NNPCL is claiming ₦11.2 trillion, more than three times the national defense budget, for oil sector advances and pipeline surveillance.
He accused the Tinubu administration of hiding the true cost of pipeline protection and demanded to know exactly how much went into securing the pipelines, which contractors received the money, and what results the government achieved with the public funds.
Speaking through Phrank Shaibu, the Director of Strategic Communication for his campaign council, Atiku stated that Nigerians deserve to know how their money is being spent.
“A mother should not have to pray her child survives the journey to school while her government cannot plainly explain the billions it spends on security. Tinubu must disclose what these contractors have received from the government and whether they have given a naira, a vehicle or any other support to his re-election”, Atiku said.
The former Vice President also criticized the pipeline security contracts awarded to Tantita Security Services, as well as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project awarded to the Chagoury Group, which according to him was awarded without any open public tender.
Leave a comment