By Seyi Odewale
A rights group, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mr Mele Kyari, to “promptly publish details of barrels of crude oil Nigeria produces and exports daily and the total revenues generated from oil since the removal of subsidy on petrol in May 2023.”
SERAP urged him “to disclose how much of these revenues from oil have been remitted to the public treasury since the removal of subsidy on petrol.
The group also urged Kyari “to disclose details of payment of N11trn as subsidy and clarify allegations that the NNPCL has failed to remit revenues generated from oil to the public treasury since the removal of subsidy on petrol.
A former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Lamido Sanusi, had last week alleged that “the NNPCL had failed to remit enough foreign exchange into the treasury despite the removal of fuel subsidy,” asking, “Where is the money?.”
In a letter dated December 9, 2023, and signed by SERAP’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said, “There is a legitimate public interest in disclosing the information sought. Opacity in the amounts of barrels of oil the country produces and exports daily, and the revenues generated and remitted to the public treasury would have negative impacts on the fundamental interests of the citizens and the public interest.
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“Transparency would ensure that the revenues are not diverted into private pockets and increase public trust that the money would be used to benefit Nigerians.
*May seek legal redress in seven days to push for compliance
The letter, which read in part, said, “The public interest in publishing the information sought outweighs any considerations to withhold the information.
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel the NNPCL to comply with our requests in the public interest.
“SERAP is seriously concerned that years of allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the oil sector and entrenched impunity of perpetrators have undermined public trust and confidence in the NNPCL.”
It continued, “Ensuring transparency and accountability in the operations of the NNPCL would improve the enjoyment by Nigerians of their right to natural wealth and resources.
“SERAP is concerned that despite the country’s enormous oil wealth, ordinary Nigerians have derived very little benefit from oil money primarily because of widespread grand corruption, and the culture of impunity of perpetrators.
“Combating the corruption epidemic in the oil sector would alleviate poverty, improve access of Nigerians to basic public goods and services, and enhance the ability of the government to meet its human rights and anti-corruption obligations.
“SERAP notes that Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) requires public institutions and officials to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.
“Section 16(2) of the Nigerian Constitution further provides that, ‘the material resources of the nation are harnessed and distributed as best as possible to serve the common good. Section 13 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 imposes clear responsibility on the NNPCL to conform to, observe, and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the constitution.
“Nigeria has made legally binding commitments under the UN Convention against Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.”
