Atiku asks Tinubu to probe N11trn NNPC spent on oil assets protection

Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has asked President Bola Tinubu to explain the N11.2 trillion that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited spent in 2025 to protect the country’s oil and gas assets.

He also demanded details of contracts and payments relating to the expenditure, while questioning whether government contractors linked to Tinubu’s administration have provided financial or material support for the president’s 2027 re-election campaign.

The demand followed the publication of NNPC’s 2025 audited financial report, which showed that the company recorded N11.2 trillion as “other receivables from federation” relating to “advance payments to the federation and costs incurred to secure the country’s oil and gas assets”.

According to the report, the expenditure was incurred under an approved framework between the federal government and NNPC, under which the company can incur costs to protect the country’s oil and gas assets and subsequently recover the expenses from the federation as “energy security costs”.

NNPC said the federal government is therefore expected to refund the company for the money spent on protecting the country’s oil assets.

In a statement issued on Sunday by Phrank Shaibu, director of strategic communication of the ADC presidential campaign council, Atiku said Nigerians deserve a full account of the expenditure.

“Nigerians cannot tell from these totals what was spent on pipeline surveillance. What was paid? Who was paid? For what work? Where are the results?” Atiku said.

The former vice-president also asked Tinubu to publish the contracts, payments and results associated with the protection of oil and gas infrastructure.

ATIKU QUESTIONS SPENDING AMID INSECURITY

The presidential candidate said the scale of the expenditure should be examined against the broader security challenges facing Nigerians.

“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 answer to the people living with these choices,” he said.

“Think of the soldier sent to confront terrorists. Think of the parent waiting outside a school after hearing that bandits have struck. Think of the family unable to reach a loved one on the highway. They deserve more than one vast figure in NNPC’s accounts.”

Atiku also questioned the relationship between government contractors and Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign.

He cited Tantita Security Services, which he said holds a pipeline security contract, and its founder’s reported involvement in campaign activities supporting Tinubu.

Atiku also raised questions over the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway contract held by a company linked to the Chagoury family.

He said the government had described the procurement process as restricted bidding, and demanded that relevant documents be made public.

“Then show us the invitations. Show us the competing bids. Show us the evaluation. Show us the contract. Why must Nigerians drag every document out of a government spending their money?” Atiku said.

He demanded that Tinubu disclose what contractors had received from the government and whether they had provided money, vehicles or other support for his re-election campaign..

The former vice president said the government must provide Nigerians with sufficient information to assess how public funds connected to the oil sector are being spent.

“The roads are bad. The economy is bad. There is no light. There is no safety. Families are hungry. Yet Tinubu calls this progress. Nigerians are struggling to buy food, praying for electricity and afraid to travel,” he stated.

Atiku said Nigerians have “had enough of hardship dressed up as reform”.