The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has thrown its weight behind growing calls for transparency in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.)’s spending, after the company’s newly audited 2024 accounts revealed a staggering N7.13 trillion recorded under “Energy Security.” The opposition party says the figure demands urgent answers from the Tinubu administration.

A Number That Keeps Growing

Speaking through its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC pointed out that Nigerians once fiercely debated a pipeline surveillance contract worth roughly N48 billion. Since then, however, that figure has ballooned dramatically. According to the party, when analysts factor in other fuel-related costs and receivables recorded in NNPC’s books, the total climbs to nearly N17.5 trillion.

“The figures raise questions that cannot be ignored by the Tinubu-led APC government.”
Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC National Publicity Secretary

The party added that Nigerians “deserve to know what accounts for such an extraordinary escalation” in the spending.

Security Spending Meets Political Scrutiny

Because the stakes are so high, the ADC argues that scrutiny becomes unavoidable. The party acknowledged that protecting Nigeria’s oil and gas infrastructure remains a legitimate national priority. Nevertheless, it insisted that spending carried out in the name of security should never be shielded from public accountability. As Abdullahi put it, the scale of the expenditure means the government carries a correspondingly heavier duty to explain it.

Adding another layer to the controversy, public reports have repeatedly linked Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd. — a firm associated with Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo — to a large share of pipeline surveillance contracts. At the same time, Ekpemupolo has emerged as a key mobiliser for President Tinubu’s re-election bid. Consequently, the ADC believes Nigerians are entitled to ask whether security funds are being used strictly to safeguard national assets, or whether political mobilisation has begun to blur into state expenditure.

What the ADC Wants to Know

To resolve these doubts, the party is demanding specific disclosures. It wants to know exactly how much has been spent on pipeline surveillance and energy security since Tinubu took office in May 2023. Furthermore, it wants the government to name who received the contracts, how much each contractor was paid, what results were actually achieved, and whether any independent value-for-money audit was ever conducted.

“These are ordinary questions that, in any democracy, should attract ordinary answers.”
ADC Statement

Economic Hardship Sharpens the Demand

Because millions of Nigerians are currently grappling with the soaring cost of food, transport and electricity, the ADC argues the timing makes accountability even more urgent. Businesses are shutting down, young people are struggling to find jobs, and against that backdrop, the party insists citizens have every right to ask whether trillions spent on energy security have translated into real security, a stronger economy, or better lives. “If the answer is yes,” the statement notes, “the government should have no difficulty showing Nigerians the evidence.”

The Call to Action

Ultimately, the ADC is calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Board and Management of NNPC Ltd., and the relevant committees of the National Assembly to immediately publish full details of the energy security expenditure.

“The question is no longer how much was spent. The question is what Nigeria has to show for it.”
Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC National Publicity Secretary

NNPC Ltd. has not yet issued a public response to the ADC’s allegations.