GODSWILL-AKPABIO
Bolatito Mercy
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio to direct the Senate’s Public Accounts Committee to publish the names and designations of all officials implicated in the alleged ₦210 trillion missing or unaccounted for from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). This call comes amid an ongoing investigation into discrepancies in NNPCL accounts between 2017 and 2023, involving roughly ₦103 trillion in joint venture costs and operational expenses, and about ₦107 trillion in receivables, subsidies, and other financial obligations.
SERAP emphasizes that transparency is crucial to prevent perceptions of cover-ups or political compromise, ensuring the facts are clearly established. The organization has given the Senate a 7-day ultimatum to comply, threatening legal action if the demands are not met. According to SERAP, the allegations can only be taken seriously if the Senate is fully transparent in its investigation.
The alleged missing funds have sparked concerns over accountability and transparency in managing Nigeria’s natural resources. Audit reports indicate unreconciled figures and missing supporting documentation, prompting the summons of current and former NNPCL officials. However, several officials have failed to appear or provide satisfactory explanations .
SERAP’s demands include releasing audit reports, financial records, official communications, and timelines for appearances by implicated officials. The organization stresses that proactive disclosure would enable Nigerians to independently assess the credibility of the allegations and the integrity of the investigative process.
The investigation’s outcome is crucial to rebuilding public trust in Nigeria’s economic management. SERAP warns that delays or lack of transparency could normalize impunity, erode public confidence, and risk evidence being lost or compromised.
The Senate’s Public Accounts Committee is under pressure to conclude the investigation promptly and transparently, with clear timelines for implicated individuals’ appearances and publication of findings .
