Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has asked the Federal Government to account for the ₦11.2 trillion recorded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) as receivables from the Federation.
Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 election, specifically requested information on funds allocated to pipeline protection, the contractors involved and the projects executed with the money.
His position was contained in a statement released on Sunday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication for the ADC Presidential Campaign Council.
Atiku said NNPCL’s 2024 financial records showed about ₦17.5 trillion in claims against the Federation under different categories, including petrol under-recovery, advances and asset protection-related receivables.
He added that the company’s 2025 accounts listed roughly ₦11.2 trillion as other receivables from the Federation.
The former vice president, however, said the figures did not sufficiently explain how much was actually committed to safeguarding oil and gas pipelines.
He therefore called for a comprehensive breakdown showing the amounts paid, the beneficiaries of the payments, the nature of the contracts and the results delivered.
Atiku also urged the government to release relevant contract documents, procurement records, bidding details, evaluation reports and evidence of completed projects to enable Nigerians to examine the expenditure.
He questioned the scale of spending on pipeline security, particularly when compared with the approximately ₦3.1 trillion provided for the Ministry of Defence in the 2025 budget.
The ADC candidate further sought clarification on agreements involving companies responsible for pipeline surveillance and major infrastructure projects.
He referred to the pipeline surveillance arrangement involving Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited and also raised questions concerning the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, which is being handled by a company associated with the Chagoury family.
Atiku called for greater disclosure regarding how the contracts were awarded, the companies that competed for them, the amounts paid and the outcomes of the projects.
He also asked the government to clarify whether any companies or individuals that secured public contracts had provided financial or other forms of support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election efforts.
According to Atiku, Nigerians should be able to determine whether there are any links between government contracts and political campaign financing.
He argued that greater transparency was necessary given the country’s economic difficulties, security concerns and the substantial resources being committed by the government.
The former vice president also criticised some of the administration’s economic policies, urging the government to take stronger measures to bring down living costs, improve electricity availability and tackle insecurity.
He further reacted to President Tinubu’s recent comments about enjoying his time in Europe, saying such remarks appeared disconnected from the economic challenges facing many Nigerians.
Atiku said that if elected president in 2027, his administration would pursue policies focused on reducing economic pressure on citizens and improving their standard of living.
The Presidency and the companies referenced in Atiku’s statement were not quoted in the material provided. The allegations concerning possible links between government contracts and campaign financing also remain claims made by Atiku and were not independently established in the material.
