ABUJA — African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has demanded a detailed breakdown of the N11.2 trillion reportedly owed to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) by the Federal Government, questioning how the funds were incurred and who benefited from the payments.
Atiku, through his Director of Strategic Communication, ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, said Nigerians deserved greater transparency regarding the oil company’s accounts, particularly payments allegedly associated with pipeline protection and other receivables.
According to him, NNPCL’s 2024 accounts recorded approximately N17.5 trillion across various claims on the Federation, including petrol under-recovery and other receivables linked to advances and asset protection.
He said the company’s 2025 accounts subsequently showed approximately N11.2 trillion in other receivables from the Federation, but argued that the figures, without detailed explanations, did not adequately show how public funds were spent.
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Atiku asked the Federal Government to disclose how much was spent on pipeline surveillance, the identities of those who received the payments, the services provided and the results achieved.
“What was paid? Who was paid? For what work? Where are the results?” he asked.
The former vice president also questioned the scale of the oil-sector receivables when compared with government spending on national defence amid persistent insecurity across the country.
Atiku noted that the Ministry of Defence received about N3.1 trillion in 2025, while NNPCL recorded approximately N11.2 trillion in other receivables from the Federation.
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Although he acknowledged that the figures belong to different accounting categories, he argued that the disparity raised questions about the administration’s spending priorities.
He said Nigerians battling insecurity deserved more than aggregate figures and called for detailed explanations of government expenditure.
Atiku further turned his attention to the relationship between major government contractors and President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign, specifically referencing Tantita’s pipeline security contract and the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway contract awarded to a company associated with the Chagoury family.
He questioned whether companies benefiting from major government contracts had provided financial, logistical or material support for Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
According to Atiku, the government should publish relevant documents concerning the contracts, including invitations to bid, competing bids, evaluation reports and the final contracts.
“Show us the invitations. Show us the competing bids. Show us the evaluation. Show us the contract,” he said.
He also referred to footage in which he said the Minister of Works was seen addressing a Chagoury as “my chairman,” arguing that public officials should remain accountable primarily to the Nigerian people.
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“A minister’s chairman should be the Nigerian people,” Atiku declared.
The ADC presidential candidate consequently demanded disclosure of the payments made to the contractors and whether they had contributed money, vehicles or other forms of support to Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
The former vice president also criticized the Tinubu administration’s handling of the country’s economic and security challenges, arguing that Nigerians were being asked to endure hardship while the government described its policies as progress.
He cited rising living costs, poor roads, electricity challenges, insecurity and food hardship as evidence of what he described as the gap between government claims and the everyday experiences of Nigerians.
Atiku maintained that an administration asking citizens to make sacrifices must also provide detailed accountability for the use of public resources.
He promised that, if elected in 2027, his administration would focus on making Nigeria more affordable and improving the conditions confronting ordinary citizens.
The ADC candidate also criticized President Tinubu’s comments after returning from a four-week stay in Europe, which the Presidency described as a “working vacation.”
Atiku said the President’s reported remarks that he “enjoyed” his time away and was “ready to kick, ready to walk” demonstrated what he described as a disconnect between the presidency and Nigerians facing economic hardship and insecurity.
The latest allegations and demands come as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections continue to intensify, with opposition figures increasingly scrutinizing the Tinubu administration’s economic policies, public spending and relationships with major contractors.
The Tinubu administration and the contractors mentioned by Atiku have the opportunity to respond to the allegations and provide their own explanations regarding the figures, contracts and campaign-related claims.
