Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has expressed deep concern over the alleged financial discrepancies recently uncovered at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), describing the situation as confirmation that Nigeria has become “a crime scene.”
Obi’s reaction came in response to revelations made by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, which is currently probing the financial records of NNPCL from 2017 to 2023. The committee, chaired by Senator Aliyu Wadada, disclosed that over ₦210 trillion could not be properly accounted for in the company’s audited financial statements.
According to the Senate, the disputed amount includes ₦103 trillion labelled as “accrued expenses” and ₦107 trillion recorded as “receivables.” These figures, the committee said, lacked sufficient documentation and accountability.
Although a delegation from NNPCL led by Chief Financial Officer Mr. Dapo Segun appeared before the Senate to dispute the claims, the committee demanded the company respond to 11 critical questions within one week.
Reacting via his X (formerly Twitter) handle over the weekend, Obi said:
“It is with the utmost sadness that I once again reaffirm what I have consistently said: Nigeria has become a crime scene.
How else does one explain the recent revelation by the Senate, which uncovered ₦210 trillion in financial irregularities in NNPCL’s accounts? No documentation. No accountability. No consequences.”
Obi noted that the alleged missing funds far exceed the country’s total budgetary spending during the same period. Citing official records, he listed Nigeria’s annual budgets from 2017 to 2023, which collectively amounted to about ₦88.01 trillion, significantly less than the alleged financial discrepancies in NNPCL’s books.
“This is a criminal, institutionalised betrayal of the Nigerian people and a grave threat to the future of the society our children will live in,” Obi stated.
“No responsible nation can continue to function like this without confronting this truth. This criminality masquerading as governance must be stopped and dismantled for a better Nigeria.”
Obi’s comments have added to growing public outcry over the Senate’s findings, which many view as a fresh test of the government’s resolve to fight corruption and enforce transparency in key national institutions.
