Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s government after reports showed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) spent ₦17.5 trillion in one year to protect fuel pipelines.
Atiku called the spending shocking, saying it is “one of the biggest financial scandals in Nigeria’s history.”
- Police Investigate Officer Over Viral Arrest Of Lagos Bus Conductor
- Isak scores first Premier League goal for Liverpool to sink West Ham
In a statement from his media office on Sunday, Atiku compared the pipeline security spending to Nigeria’s fuel subsidy. He said the entire fuel subsidy, over 12 years, cost about ₦18 trillion — an amount that helped millions of Nigerians by keeping transport and food prices stable.
He said it was surprising that nearly the same amount was spent in just one year on pipeline security contracts linked to people close to the President. Atiku accused the government of favouring its friends instead of serving Nigerians.
Atiku also questioned why the government removed fuel subsidy and told Nigerians to “make sacrifices,” only to now spend ₦17.5 trillion on unclear security contracts. He said this money could have fixed Nigeria’s power sector, rebuilt refineries, or provided healthcare for all Nigerians.
According to NNPCL records cited in the statement, the government spent:
₦7.13 trillion on “energy-security costs,”
₦8.67 trillion on “under-recovery.”
Atiku described these terms as confusing labels meant to hide the fact that the government is still paying subsidy despite claiming otherwise.
He then asked several important questions:
- Who are the companies receiving these huge contracts?
- Why did energy-security costs increase by almost 39% within a year?
- Why is pipeline security now more expensive than 12 years of fuel subsidy?
- Where are the audit reports and official checks to justify this spending?
Atiku said the Tinubu administration has no moral right to ask Nigerians to endure hardship while a few powerful people enrich themselves.
He insisted that the government must:
1. Publish the names of all companies that got pipeline security contracts.
2. Reveal the details and duration of the contracts.
3. Allow an independent forensic audit of the ₦17.5 trillion expenditure.
4. Stop further spending until accountability is ensured.
5. Explain how this spending fits into Nigeria’s priorities during a severe economic crisis.
Atiku concluded that Nigerians deserve honesty and responsible leadership — not corruption or misuse of public funds.