Atiku Demands Full Disclosure on N17.5tr Pipeline Security Spend

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has challenged the Federal Government to provide a detailed explanation on the reported N17.5 trillion spent on securing petroleum pipelines in 2024.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), in its audited financial statement, listed the sum as expenditure on pipeline protection—an amount Atiku described as “a fiscal aberration and a moral burden on the Tinubu administration”.

In a statement by his media office yesterday, Atiku urged the government to release the full list of contractors, including their scope of work, deliverables, and contract duration. He also demanded that the entire spending be subjected to an independent forensic audit.

“At a time Nigerians are grappling with unprecedented economic hardship, the government must explain how this staggering expenditure aligns with national priorities,” he said.

Atiku described the spending as “one of the most brazen financial scandals in Nigeria’s history”, comparing it with the ₦18 trillion spent on fuel subsidy over 12 years, which he said had direct social benefits for citizens.

He argued that the Tinubu administration has “repackaged petrol subsidy under new opaque titles”, pointing to the reported ₦7.13 trillion energy-security cost and ₦8.67 trillion under-recovery spent within the same year.

“These two nomenclatures are an attempt to mask the reality that the administration did not end subsidy; it only diverted public funds to private interests tied to those in power,” he said.

Atiku accused government officials of “robbing Nigerians to enrich cronies”, adding that the alleged diversion of funds undermines public confidence and raises fundamental questions about transparency in the petroleum sector.

He urged the government to halt further payments until an open and verifiable audit establishes accountability.