Former Vice President and ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has called for a full account of the ₦11.2 trillion recorded by NNPC as owed to it by the Federation for advances and costs, including protecting Nigeria's oil and gas assets. Atiku stated that Nigerians deserve to know how much of this enormous claim went to guarding pipelines, who received the money, and what protection it bought.
According to NNPC's 2024 accounts, roughly ₦17.5 trillion was recorded across different claims on the Federation, including petrol under-recovery and other receivables linked to advances and asset protection. However, its 2025 accounts show approximately ₦11.2 trillion in other receivables from the Federation. Atiku expressed concerns that Nigerians cannot tell from these totals what was spent on pipeline surveillance, what was paid, who was paid, and for what work.
Atiku Abubakar submitted that the scale of this imbalance is indefensible, citing that in 2025, the Ministry of Defence received about ₦3.1 trillion, while NNPC recorded ₦11.2 trillion in other receivables from the Federation - more than three times the defence allocation. He argued that these figures belong to different accounting categories, but their contrast is stark, indicating that under Tinubu, sums tied to the oil sector dwarf the resources allocated to defend the country.
The ADC presidential candidate further stated that the need for answers extends beyond NNPC's accounts to the relationship between government contractors and Tinubu's re-election effort. He mentioned Tantita, which holds a pipeline security contract, and its founder sending campaign vehicles out to seek another term for the President. Atiku also referenced the Chagourys' company, which holds the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway contract, awarded without an open public tender.
Atiku Abubakar demanded that Tinubu disclose what these contractors have received from the government and whether they have given a naira, a vehicle, or any other support to his re-election. He emphasized that Nigerians will not tighten their belts while the President's associates collect contracts, and the money behind his campaign remains hidden.
Atiku Abubakar stated that a government asking hungry families to make sacrifices must be willing to account for every naira it claims on the public purse. He mentioned that Nigerians are struggling to buy food, praying for electricity, and afraid to travel due to worsening socioeconomic conditions. Atiku promised that in 2027, he will bring this chapter to an end, making Nigeria affordable again.
Atiku Abubakar criticized Tinubu for not empathizing with Nigerians over worsening socioeconomic conditions due to his yawning distance from the existential realities Nigerians face. Atiku's demands come as Nigerians continue to face hardship, with many calling for greater transparency and accountability in government spending.
Key points
- Atiku Abubakar demands transparency on N11.2 trillion owed to NNPCL
- NNPC's 2025 accounts show approximately ₦11.2 trillion in other receivables from the Federation
- Atiku criticizes Tinubu's government for lack of transparency and accountability
