The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), and the National Assembly to immediately disclose the full details of the company's energy security expenditure, following concerns raised by the figures contained in the NNPC's audited 2024 financial accounts.

The party said it had taken note of the figures contained in the recently audited accounts of NNPC Ltd. for the 2024 financial year, arguing that the disclosures raise questions that cannot be ignored by the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.

According to the ADC, the audited accounts recorded N7.13 trillion under "Energy Security" for 2024. The party further noted that when other fuel-related costs and receivables reflected in the accounts are taken into consideration, the amount rises to about N17.5 trillion.

The opposition party said the figures represent an extraordinary increase in energy security expenditure and insisted that Nigerians deserve a comprehensive explanation.

"Only a few years ago, Nigerians debated a pipeline surveillance contract worth about N48 billion. Today, the audited accounts record N7.13 trillion under 'Energy Security' for 2024. When other fuel-related costs and receivables reflected in the accounts are taken into consideration, the amount rises to about N17.5 trillion," the party stated.

"Nigerians deserve to know what accounts for such an extraordinary escalation and, more importantly, what value the country has received in return."

The ADC acknowledged that safeguarding Nigeria's oil and gas infrastructure remains a legitimate national priority but maintained that expenditures made in the name of national security must remain subject to public accountability.

"As a responsible political party, the ADC recognizes that protecting Nigeria's oil and gas infrastructure is a legitimate national priority. But spending in the name of security cannot be exempt from public scrutiny. The bigger the bill, the stronger the obligation to explain it," the statement added.

The party also pointed to public reports identifying Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd. as a major beneficiary of pipeline surveillance contracts. It noted that the company has been linked to Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), who has recently emerged as a prominent mobiliser for President Bola Tinubu's re-election campaign.

According to the ADC, these developments make transparency even more critical.

The party argued that Nigerians are entitled to know whether public funds appropriated for pipeline security are being used solely to protect critical national assets or whether the distinction between state expenditure and political mobilization has become blurred.

The ADC further demanded that the Federal Government disclose how much has been spent on pipeline surveillance and energy security since President Bola Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, identify the recipients of the contracts, state the amounts paid, provide evidence of the results achieved, and indicate whether any independent value-for-money assessment was conducted.

"These are ordinary questions that, in any democracy, should attract ordinary answers," the party said.

The ADC also linked the issue to the country's current economic challenges, arguing that Nigerians facing rising living costs deserve clear evidence that the substantial expenditure on energy security has produced measurable benefits.

"At a time when families are struggling with the cost of food, transport and electricity, when businesses are closing their doors and young people cannot find jobs, Nigerians have a right to ask whether the trillions of Naira spent in the name of energy security have made the country more secure, the economy more productive, or the lives of ordinary citizens any better. If the answer is yes, the government should have no difficulty showing Nigerians the evidence."

The party therefore called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Board and Management of NNPC Ltd., and the relevant committees of the National Assembly to immediately publish the full details of the energy security expenditure, adding that the question is no longer how much was spent but what Nigeria has to show for it.