Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has initiated legal proceedings against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), accusing it of withholding critical information on Nigeria’s daily oil production, exports, and total revenues generated from oil since the removal of the petrol subsidy in May 2023.
The lawsuit, filed as suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1719/2023 at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, is a response to SERAP’s previous request to Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, urging transparency in disclosing revenues generated from oil post-subsidy removal.
In a letter dated December 9, 2023, SERAP emphasized the public interest in obtaining this information and urged NNPCL to disclose the daily oil production, export amounts, and generated revenue within seven days.
The statement from SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare highlighted the legitimate public interest in such disclosures, citing the need for transparency, accountability, and compliance with constitutional provisions and international commitments.
“The NNPC has a legal responsibility to disclose the details of Nigeria’s daily oil production, exportation, and the revenues generated and remitted. Nigerians have the right to know the amounts of barrels of oil the country produces and exports daily, the revenues generated, and remitted to the public treasury,” the statement read.
The failure of NNPC to respond to SERAP’s request prompted the legal action, with SERAP asserting that the lawsuit is in the public interest. The advocacy group, represented by lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Andrew Nwankwo, argued that transparency in oil-related financial matters is crucial in preventing corruption and ensuring public trust in utilizing revenues for the benefit of Nigerians.
This legal move comes amidst concerns raised by former Central Bank Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi about NNPC’s alleged failure to remit sufficient foreign exchange into the treasury post-fuel subsidy removal, raising questions about fund utilization.
SERAP emphasized the need for NNPC to comply with the law and provide essential information to the public, contributing to anti-corruption efforts and securing the people’s right to natural resources.
