Atiku demands independent forensic audit of ₦17.5 trillion spent on pipeline security by NNPCL
Former Vice‑President Atiku Abubakar has called for an independent forensic audit following revelations that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) allegedly spent ₦17.5 trillion in a single year on “pipeline security” and related energy‑security costs.
According to Atiku’s media office, the disclosed sum — said to cover surveillance, repairs, anti‑theft operations, under‑recovery and other security‑related expenses — is comparable to the roughly ₦18trillion that Nigeria spent on fuel subsidy over a 12‑year period.
He described the spending as one of the most “brazen financial scandals” in the nation’s history, and warned that such opaque expenditures risk deepening public distrust in governance.
Atiku urged the government to publish a full list of all companies awarded the contracts, alongside the scope, deliverables, and duration of each contract.
He further demanded a halt on further disbursements until full transparency and accountability are guaranteed.
He argued that the funds could instead have been channeled into critical sectors — such as power, healthcare, or infrastructure — to directly benefit Nigerians, rather than being funneled into “opaque security contracts” allegedly linked to political cronies.
Meanwhile, analysts and energy‑sector watchers have raised serious concerns over the justification of such a massive expenditure.
They note that despite the spending, long‑standing issues such as pipeline vandalism, crude theft, and inadequate refining capacity continue to plague the nation’s oil and gas sector — casting doubt on whether the security investments are delivering real value.
With inflation, high fuel prices, and widespread economic hardship already squeezing households, many Nigerians are now asking whether the ₦17.5 trillion outlay represents prudent fiscal policy — or a disturbing case of public funds being diverted under the cover of “security.”
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