Atiku Demands Transparency: Accuses Tinubu of Hiding NNPCL Books, Campaign Finances

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has intensified his call for transparency and accountability from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) regarding an alleged ₦11.2 trillion owed to it by the Federation. This colossal sum, recorded as advances and costs, includes funds purportedly spent on safeguarding Nigeria's vital oil and gas assets. Atiku, through Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, demanded a thorough explanation for this expenditure, specifically questioning how much was allocated to pipeline protection, who the beneficiaries of these funds were, and what tangible results such protection yielded.

The former Vice President highlighted inconsistencies and lack of detail in NNPCL's financial disclosures. He noted that while NNPCL's 2024 accounts showed approximately ₦17.5 trillion in various claims on the Federation, including petrol under-recovery and other receivables related to advances and asset protection, its 2025 accounts now reflect about ₦11.2 trillion in "other receivables." Atiku stressed that these figures fail to provide Nigerians with a clear understanding of the specifics of pipeline surveillance expenditure, reiterating his demand for answers on who was paid, for what work, and what the outcomes were.

Atiku sharply contrasted NNPCL's substantial claims with the nation's defense budget, underscoring what he perceives as a distorted prioritization by the current administration. He pointed out that in 2025, the Ministry of Defence received about ₦3.1 trillion, a figure dwarfed by NNPCL's ₦11.2 trillion in other receivables from the Federation – more than three times the defense allocation. While acknowledging that these figures fall into different accounting categories, Atiku argued that their stark contrast under the Tinubu administration suggests that sums tied to the oil sector are prioritized over resources meant for national defense, a measure he deemed "damning" of the administration's priorities.

Furthermore, Atiku questioned the government's ability to explain the necessity of protecting pipelines while seemingly struggling to ensure the safety of its citizens. He urged reflection on the plights of soldiers confronting terrorists, parents fearing for their children's safety at school, and families unable to contact loved ones on dangerous highways, asserting that they deserve more than ambiguous figures in NNPCL's accounts. He criticized the government for being able to justify pipeline protection but failing to guarantee the protection of Nigerian lives.

The former Vice President also extended his scrutiny to the alleged nexus between government contractors and President Tinubu’s re-election campaign. He cited Tantita, a company holding a pipeline security contract, whose founder is reportedly involved in seeking another term for the President. Atiku also raised concerns about the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway contract, which was awarded to the Chagourys' company without an open public tender. Despite the government's assertion of using restricted bidding, Atiku challenged them to produce evidence such as invitations, competing bids, evaluations, and the contract itself, lamenting that Nigerians are forced to "drag every document out of a government spending their money."

Adding to his criticisms, Atiku highlighted footage showing the Minister of Works greeting a Chagoury as "my chairman," which he found inappropriate, stating that a minister's true chairman should be the Nigerian people. He demanded that Tinubu disclose all receipts by these contractors from the government and any contributions they might have made—be it naira, vehicles, or any other support—to his re-election campaign. Atiku emphasized that Nigerians should not be asked to tighten their belts while the President's associates secure contracts and the financial backing of his campaign remains shrouded in secrecy.

Concluding his statement, Atiku Abubakar asserted that a government demanding sacrifices from "hungry families" must be prepared to account for every naira claimed from the public purse. He painted a grim picture of Nigeria's current state: bad roads, a struggling economy, power outages, insecurity, and widespread hunger, all while Tinubu allegedly frames this as "progress." He lambasted Tinubu's perceived disconnect, citing the President's recent "working vacation" in Europe, where he reportedly "enjoyed myself. Fantastic" and declared himself "Ready to kick, ready to walk," despite the "existential realities Nigerians face." Atiku vowed to make Nigeria affordable again and declared that 2027 would mark the end of what he called a chapter of hardship under Tinubu's leadership.