Civil society organizations, CSOs, under the aegis of The National Transparency Network, have demanded a thorough investigation into the financial activities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) under the leadership of former Group CEO, Mele Kyari.
The CSOs, led by the National Coordinator, Dr Fabian Opialu, made the demand at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday.
They specifically demanded a probe into issues surrounding the Port Harcourt Refinery.
According to the CSOs, a Special Commission of Inquiry should be constituted to probe the $1.5 billion reporter spent on the Port Harcourt Refinery.
They condemned what they described as ‘reckless expenditure' on the refinery, noting that the $1.5 billion reportedly spent on the facility is higher than the annual budgets of several African countries.
The CSOs questioned the initial plan to rehabilitate two refineries, which was abandoned without justification, and demanded answers as to where the funds were utilized.
Accusing the Kyari-led NNPCL management of lack of transparency and accountability, the CSOs cited alleged reports of “mechanical completion” of the refinery.
The CSOs equally raised concerns about what they described as suspicious arrangements between NNPCL and Matrix Oil, which they said invested $400 million in the refinery rehabilitation without clear terms.
They demanded a comprehensive forensic audit of all NNPCL financial transactions over the past five years, publication of the names of those involved in the alleged misallocation of 89 million barrels of crude oil to non-state actors, and a detailed report on how $1.5 billion was spent on the Port Harcourt Refinery.
According to the CSOs, Kyari and other former or serving NNPCL executives should be prosecuted if found culpable.
They called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the National Assembly, and the Presidency to act swiftly and without delay on the demands.
“Firstly, we must draw attention to the previously mentioned staggering sum of $1.5 billion earmarked for the rehabilitation of Nigeria's refineries. Nigerians were led to believe that these funds, allocated by the Buhari-led administration in 2021, were intended for a comprehensive overhaul.
“However, to the shock and dismay of the public, not only were these funds entirely expended on just one refinery, but the said refinery turned out to be non-functional, failing to meet even the most basic industrial standards expected of such an investment.
“Such fiscal mismanagement should have been the subject of a rigorous criminal investigation involving all national and international parties implicated in this debacle.
“Yet, under President Tinubu's administration, the silenced voices of Nigerians are being amplified, demanding answers to critical questions: Where did these huge funds disappear to? Why was the initial plan of rehabilitating two refineries abandoned without justification?
“Who are those responsible for this national capture of our resources? Moreover, this treacherous act defies logic and prudence. The dissipation of such a colossal sum with no concrete outcome or accountability speaks volumes about the Kyari-led administration.
“Despite false reports of a ‘mechanical completion’ the Port Harcourt refinery has yet to deliver refined products to Nigeria and Nigerians. On behalf of Nigerians, we ask: What was the essence of this prodigious spending? Where are the contractors? Can we see the audit trails? Finally, what role did Kyari's NNPCL leadership play in enabling or facilitating this dereliction of duty against the nation?
“Perhaps even more alarming is the unresolved scandal surrounding the disappearance, or rather the misallocation, of over 89 million barrels of crude oil to non-state actors. While many view this as a case of mismanagement, we see it as an enormous economic sabotage of the highest order.
“It is an undeniable fact that Nigerians deserve to know who authorized such transfers, who the beneficiaries are, and why no arrests have been made to date. The absence of accountability concerning this monumental loss is a disgrace to the stature of leadership and a great threat to Nigeria's economic sovereignty.
“Nigerians will not tolerate another phase of misappropriation and concealment. We appeal to the media to amplify this call and maintain pressure on the authorities. Likewise, we urge all stakeholders and groups to lend their voices to this cause for a better Nigeria. It is only through our collective vigilance that the heart of our nation can be preserved from kleptomaniac interests.
“Otherwise, our collective silence will embolden corrupt actors to continue their plundering of our national resources. The situation at the NNPCL is symptomatic of a deeper malaise that must be uprooted if Nigeria is to fulfill its economic potential.
“The NNPCL $1.5 billion refinery debacle is not just a case of wasted funds; it is a national emergency that demands immediate and thorough redress,” the statement added.
Expressing support for Tinubu's reforms in the oil and gas sector, the CSOs urged the President to go further by taking urgent steps to ensure transparency and accountability in the sector.
