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SERAP demands NNPCL’s explanation on alleged missing N22.3bn, $49.7m, others

Published

3 hours ago

October 27, 2025

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has called on the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Bayo Ojulari, to explain the whereabouts of alleged missing oil funds amounting to N22.3bn, $49.7m, £14.3m, and €5.2m, reportedly unaccounted for in the company’s financial records.

The civic group, in a letter dated October 25, 2025, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said the missing sums were documented in the 2022 annual report recently published by the Auditor-General of the Federation on September 9, 2025.

SERAP urged Ojulari to identify and hand over those responsible for the alleged diversion or misappropriation of the funds to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for prosecution.

It also demanded that the missing funds be recovered and returned to the national treasury without further delay.

“These grim allegations by the Auditor-General suggest a grave violation of public trust, the Nigerian Constitution, anti-corruption laws, and the country’s international obligations,” the organisation stated.

According to SERAP, the Auditor-General’s findings point to “systemic corruption” within the NNPCL, which has “undermined Nigeria’s economic development, trapped millions in poverty, and deprived citizens of access to essential public services.”

The group noted that the Auditor-General has, over the years, consistently documented similar reports of unremitted or missing oil revenues, lamenting that “ordinary Nigerians continue to bear the brunt of widespread corruption in the oil sector.”

It said,“Combating the corruption epidemic in the oil sector would alleviate poverty, improve access of Nigerians to basic public goods and services, and enhance the government’s ability to meet its human rights and anti-corruption obligations.”

SERAP further alleged that the misappropriated oil revenues reflected a broader failure of accountability and transparency at the NNPCL, contributing to Nigeria’s rising debt levels and deficit spending.

The group said, “Had the NNPCL accounted for and remitted these diverted or misappropriated oil monies, more funds would have been available for education, healthcare, and other critical sectors. The level of borrowing by the government would also have been reduced.”

SERAP gave the NNPCL a seven-day ultimatum to take the recommended steps or face appropriate legal action to compel compliance.

Quoting details from the 2022 audited report, SERAP highlighted numerous irregularities in NNPCL’s accounts, including: a ₦292m abandoned contract for an Accident and Emergency Facility in Abuja; over £14m allegedly spent to repair its London office without evidence of execution; an irregular $22.8m payment to a contractor for crude lifting, with unclear justification.

Others include a N2.3bn paid as car cash options to 100 staff without requisite approvals; ₦12.7bn unremitted operating surplus for December 2020, and the €5.1m paid for jetty operations with no supporting documents.

Multiple cases of undocumented or fictitious contract payments running into billions of naira and millions of dollars.

The Auditor-General reportedly expressed fears that much of the money “may have been diverted or misappropriated” and called for its recovery and remittance to the treasury.

SERAP cited Section 15(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandates public institutions to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power, urging the NNPCL to act transparently in the public interest.

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Sack of service chiefs has sent mixed feelings to North – HRC Director, Adamu

Published

47 minutes ago

October 27, 2025

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The Country Director of the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) and Retired Army Captain, Ambassador Abdullahi Bokaji Adamu, has said that the recent sack of Nigeria’s service chiefs has sent mixed feelings across the North, as many people in the region are watching closely to see whether the replacements will reflect fairness and balance.

In an exclusive interview on Sunday, Adamu who is also a retired captain described the President’s decision as both political and strategic, noting that while it signals readiness to make tough decisions, it also raises deeper questions about political motives and internal power struggles.

“In my opinion, the recent sack of the security chiefs may have been influenced by several factors. Officially, it could be linked to the government’s desire for improved performance and new strategies to address persistent insecurity,” he said.

“However, behind the scenes, there may also be political undertones or internal power struggles within the system.”

According to him, some Nigerians believe the decision might be connected to a suspected attempted coup or internal realignments within the military hierarchy.

Although such claims remain unconfirmed, he said they reflect the level of mistrust and political complexity surrounding security leadership in the country.

“In Nigeria, politics is deeply rooted in every major decision, including security appointments. It has almost become a tradition that each administration prefers to work with people from its own region or political circle,” he noted.

“Unfortunately, this practice often undermines fairness and merit, as the most qualified or experienced officers are sometimes overlooked in favor of political loyalty or regional interests.”

Ambassador Adamu said while the sack of the service chiefs shows that the President is ready to act decisively, it has created mixed emotions in the North.

“Many in the region are watching closely to see if the replacements will reflect fairness and balance,” he said.

“Fortunately, the new appointments appear regionally balanced, with two out of the four new service chiefs coming from the North. This has helped to reduce tension and suspicion.”

He added that the North is now waiting to see results, not promises.

“The North’s confidence in the federal government will depend largely on results. For years, northern communities have borne the brunt of banditry, insurgency, and kidnappings. People are no longer moved by speeches, they want peace, stability, and safe roads.”

The IHRC Director also noted that Nigerians have long observed that the government reacts quickly only when the elite are affected.

“There have been many occasions when innocent citizens were killed, but no decisive action was taken. Now that the leadership itself has been directly affected, the sack came immediately. This makes people feel that the government only acts fast when the powerful are touched,” he said.

“This perception must change if the government truly wants to earn public trust.”

Ambassador Adamu acknowledged that the former Army Chief and his team did their best under difficult conditions but were limited by systemic problems.

“It’s important to remember that even the Chief of Defence Staff once said that a significant percentage of the security solution lies in the hands of the government, not just the military,” he recalled.

“That statement alone highlights the challenges faced by the security chiefs, limited political will, inadequate funding, and weak inter-agency cooperation.”

The human rights advocate urged the newly appointed service chiefs to adopt a broader and more people-focused strategy.

“The new security chiefs must understand that military force alone cannot end insecurity. They need to combine force with intelligence, dialogue, and community participation,” he advised.

“They should work closely with state governments, traditional rulers, and local vigilantes to build trust and cooperation.”

He, however, warned that true change would take time unless the government supports them with freedom and resources to act effectively.

“As long as Nigeria continues to face indirect forms of political and economic control, our security system will remain limited in effectiveness,” he said.

“Their success will depend on how much support and cooperation they receive from the federal government.”

Ambassador Adamu concluded that while the sack of the security chiefs is commendable, the government must prove that such actions are not driven by politics.

“What the North and indeed all Nigerians want is peace, justice, and inclusion, not favoritism or hidden agendas,” he said.

“If handled with sincerity and fairness, these changes could bring the positive results Nigerians are yearning for. But if politics continues to overshadow merit, the cycle of insecurity will persist.”

Recall that President Bola Tinubu sacked the service chiefs in a sweeping overhaul of the country’s military leadership.

The presidency said on Friday, that it is part of efforts to strengthen national security.

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Sanwo-Olu won’t leave uncompleted projects – LASG

Published

3 hours ago

October 27, 2025

Newsbreak365_Admin

The Lagos State Government has said the current administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu will complete all projects it has embarked upon before the expiration of its term in 2027.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, who said this during an interactive session with journalists on Friday, listed some of the landmark projects of the administration as the 150-bed Massey Street Children’s Hospital; the Green Rail Line; and Ojo General Hospital; and the “largest food hub in sub-Saharan Africa, that can feed like five million people for at least three months if there is famine.”

Omotoso stressed that Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, remain committed to ensuring that no project is abandoned.

He said, “All of the beautiful projects that you see that we have started, we are going to complete them. The new Massey Hospital is almost completed. The Opebi-Mende Link Bridge will be commissioned before the end of the year.”

Sanwo-Olu performed the groundbreaking for the seven-storey hospital in April 2021, while full-scale construction began in 2022.

The new 150-bed children’s hospital, when completed, will replace the current century-old Massey Hospital, which was established in 1914 by the colonial administration.

“What is left is what I can call finishing touches. And you know, it’s not just the building that makes a hospital. You must equip it. That is where I feel that we really have a lot of work to do. But all I know is that the hospital will be unveiled by next year. And it’s not just the new Massey Hospital. The General Hospital in Ojo, that one too is going to be completed,” Omotoso said.

He also noted that a food hub, which has already been completed, would be unveiled “early next year, if not later this year,” describing it as the largest in sub-Saharan Africa.

“And to tell you the kind of excitement that we have over it, it is the kind of hub that can store food. Go for a visit, if there is a famine in the land, it can feed like five million people for at least, three months. And if there is so much food inflation, and prices are going up, if you release some of the items that you have in the logistics, it can reduce prices. So, it’s a kind of facility that should excite all of us.”

Omotoso further spoke about other projects that would be completed before the end of Sanwo-Olu’s administration in 2027.

“So, I am talking about some other projects, like roads that we have started. All of them are going to be completed. I do not see any project that may be so big that we won’t be able to complete.’’

The commissioner added that construction is ongoing on the second phase of both the Blue Line and Red Line Rail projects, expressing confidence that both would be completed before the governor leaves office.

He added, ‘’And of course, the Green Rail Line, as I speak with you now, the meeting is going on. On that, it will also be started and then everybody will see appreciable progress, if not a completion, before we leave office. So there is nothing that we are doing now that we are not going to complete.”

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News

NiMet predicts three-day dust haze, rain from Monday

Published

3 hours ago

October 27, 2025

Newsbreak365_Admin

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has predicted varying weather conditions, including dust haze and rainfall, across different parts of the country between Monday and Wednesday, urging residents to stay alert.

In its weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja, NiMet projected slight dust haze with good visibility over Borno, Zamfara, northern Kaduna, Yobe, Jigawa, Kano, and Katsina States on Monday.

The agency added that isolated thunderstorms with light rain were likely in parts of Taraba and Adamawa States during the afternoon or evening hours on Monday.

NiMet forecast sunny skies with patches of clouds over the central region, with prospects of isolated thunderstorms and light rain in the FCT, Nasarawa, and Kogi States later in the day.

The statement read, “Cloudy conditions are expected in the southern region on Monday morning, with isolated thunderstorms and light rains over parts of Cross River, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom States.

“Later in the afternoon and evening, thunderstorms with moderate rainfall are anticipated in Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Ondo, Osun, Lagos, Ekiti, Ogun, Edo, Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom States.

“On Tuesday, NiMet forecast continued slight dust haze in good visibility over northern states, while Taraba and Adamawa may experience isolated thunderstorms and light rain throughout the day.

“Sunny skies with intermittent clouds are predicted in the central region, alongside chances of early morning thunderstorms in Benue and later moderate rain across FCT, Nasarawa, and Kogi States.”

NiMet also projected cloudy skies across the southern states, with moderate rainfall over Rivers, Cross River, Ebonyi, and Akwa Ibom in the morning, intensifying later in the day.

The agency warned of possible flooding in parts of Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Cross River States, urging local authorities to activate emergency response measures where necessary.

For Wednesday, NiMet anticipated sunny skies across the northern region, with isolated thunderstorms and light rain expected later in the day, particularly over parts of Taraba State.

“The central region will experience sunny skies with patches of clouds, while isolated thunderstorms with light rain are likely over Kogi and the Federal Capital Territory.

“In the south, cloudy conditions are expected in the morning, followed by thunderstorms with moderate rains later in the afternoon and evening across Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Delta, and Akwa Ibom,” it stated.

NiMet reiterated a high risk of flash floods, urging motorists to exercise caution when driving in rain and for authorities in vulnerable areas to implement flood response measures immediately.

The agency also advised individuals with asthma and respiratory conditions to limit outdoor exposure due to dust particles suspended in the atmosphere over the northern parts of the country.

Airline operators were urged to obtain airport-specific weather reports from NiMet for flight planning, while the public was encouraged to follow updates via the agency’s website and communication channels.

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