The Vanguard for Probity and Accountability has accused the board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) of extravagance amid ongoing financial controversies.
In a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Thursday, Joel Abba, national coordinator of the group, alleged that the NNPCL board has concluded plans to fly to Kigali, Rwanda, this Friday using five private jets.
He claimed the jets were arranged by the son-in-law of a highly influential politically exposed person and the entire trip would cost over N1 billion.
His words: “The discovery leaves more to be desired. To add salt to injury, the board has planned an extravagant trip to Kigali, Rwanda this Friday on five private jets, which amount to over a billion naira.
“This is absurdity taken too far. We are obviously being taken for granted by this crop of leaders manning our oil sector.
“Little wonder Nigerians have been paying heavily on petrol just for a few individuals to finance an obscene lifestyle.”
Abba also accused the NNPCL of financial recklessness, citing recent revelations by the senate over discrepancies totaling more than N210 trillion in the company’s audited accounts from 2017 to 2023.
The senate, during a hearing on Wednesday, gave the NNPCL one week to explain what lawmakers described as “mind-boggling” irregularities in accrued expenses and receivables in its financial statements.
Aliyu Wadada, chairman of the investigative committee, labeled the discrepancies as “unacceptable” and vowed that the Senate would exercise its full oversight powers to get accountability from the oil company.
Backing the Senate’s probe, Abba said the NNPCL has shown “crass insensitivity, arrogance, and a lack of accountability” and called on the upper legislative chamber to remain firm.
He said the situation raises serious questions about the use of public resources at a time when many Nigerians are grappling with economic hardship.
