The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) to publish full details of the N7.13 trillion recorded as energy security expenditure in the company’s 2024 audited financial statements.
The opposition party also questioned the overlap between pipeline surveillance contracts reportedly awarded to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd., a company linked to Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, and his role as a prominent mobiliser for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign.
In a statement issued on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said the scale of the expenditure demands full transparency, including disclosure of all beneficiaries, payments made, projects executed, outcomes achieved and any independent audit conducted on the spending.
According to the party, the N7.13 trillion expenditure represents a dramatic increase from the pipeline surveillance contract of about N48 billion that previously generated national debate.
It noted that when other fuel-related costs and receivables reflected in the company’s audited accounts are added, the total amount rises to about N17.5 trillion.
“The figures raise questions that cannot be ignored by the Tinubu-led APC government,” the statement said, adding that Nigerians deserve to know what accounts for the sharp increase in spending and what benefits the country has derived from it.
While acknowledging that safeguarding Nigeria’s oil and gas infrastructure is a legitimate national priority, the ADC argued that expenditure on security should not be shielded from public scrutiny.
The party said public reports have consistently identified Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd. as a major beneficiary of pipeline surveillance contracts, while noting that Tompolo has recently emerged as a leading supporter of President Tinubu’s second-term campaign.
According to the ADC, the dual role makes it imperative for the government to demonstrate that public funds allocated for energy security are not being used to support partisan political activities.
The party called on the government to disclose how much has been spent on pipeline surveillance and energy security since President Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, identify all contractors, state the amounts paid, explain the results achieved and indicate whether any independent value-for-money assessment had been conducted.
It argued that such information was necessary, particularly at a time when many Nigerians are grappling with rising food prices, transportation costs, electricity tariffs and widespread unemployment.
The ADC therefore urged President Tinubu, the board and management of NNPC Ltd., and the relevant committees of the National Assembly to immediately make public the full details of the energy security expenditure.
“The question is no longer how much was spent. The question is what Nigeria has to show for it,” the statement concluded.
