A civil society organisation, the Coalition for Better Nigeria, has thrown its weight behind the ongoing investigation by the National Assembly into the oil pipeline surveillance contract awarded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

The group described the probe as a necessary step toward transparency and accountability in the oil and gas sector.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Friday, spokesperson Yahaya Garba commended the legislature for initiating the investigation into the controversial pipeline surveillance arrangement reportedly valued at about N2.1 trillion, noting that the move demonstrates the National Assembly’s commitment to scrutinising public expenditure and safeguarding national resources.

The group said the probe would reassure Nigerians that the parliament remains committed to its constitutional duty of oversight and ensuring accountability in the management of public funds.

The National Assembly recently held a joint investigative hearing by the Senate and House of Representatives committees on petroleum resources to review the pipeline surveillance contract and the financial operations of the NNPCL.

The lawmakers said the hearing would interrogate the procurement process, funding structure, scope of work and performance benchmarks of the contract, as well as determine whether it has effectively curtailed crude oil theft and improved revenue generation.

However, the coalition criticised the former management of the NNPCL, alleging that Nigerians were misled about the true value of the contract.

According to the group, what had previously been presented to the public as a N4.8 billion monthly contract has now emerged as a multi-trillion-naira arrangement, a development it described as deceptive and unacceptable.

The coalition further argued that despite the huge financial commitment, crude oil theft had continued on a large scale, citing reports of tanker vessels allegedly carrying stolen Nigerian crude intercepted abroad.

“This clearly implies that crude oil is being stolen in unimaginable proportions right under the watch of those paid to prevent it,” the group said.

Garba added that such large-scale theft could not occur without the involvement of those responsible for securing the pipelines.
Consequently, the coalition called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to terminate the contract and review the current surveillance framework.

It also proposed that pipeline protection should instead be handled by host communities located along the pipelines, in line with provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

The group argued that engaging host communities would empower local youths, encourage ownership of oil infrastructure and improve the effectiveness of surveillance efforts.
.
The coalition urged the National Assembly to ensure that the probe goes beyond routine hearings by engaging forensic experts to audit the accounts of the companies involved in the contract.

According to the group, such scrutiny would help determine whether funds allocated for the project were properly utilised or diverted through questionable financial arrangements.

“We call on members of the National Assembly to remain focused on this probe. We urge them to go beyond surface-level hearings and involve forensic experts to audit the accounts of the companies handling this project.

“It is imperative to know whether the monies paid are actually being used to pay workers and subcontractors, or if they are being returned as kickbacks to those who influenced and inflated the contract in the first place. The Nigerian people deserve to know the full extent of this financial mess”, it added.