The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee has launched a probe into billions of naira in outstanding regulatory debts owed to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and oil companies.

The liabilities under investigation have risen to ₦432.07bn, according to findings contained in reports by the Auditor-General of the Federation.

The committee’s investigation follows concerns over petroleum-related obligations that have remained unpaid for several years, with some debts reportedly dating back to 2017.

ALSO READ: NNPCL-CNL Joint Venture Announces Successful Awodi‑07 Appraisal and Exploration Well

The Auditor-General’s 2023 report had put the combined indebtedness of NNPCL and oil companies at ₦392.73bn. NNPCL accounted for ₦162.46bn, while oil companies operating under industry associations including DAPPMAN, MEMAN and MOMAN were responsible for ₦230.27bn.

Further submissions by the NMDPRA revealed that 146 oil companies owed the authority ₦327.53bn as of 2025.

The outstanding liabilities are linked to various petroleum-sector obligations, including Balancing Allowance, National Transport Average and the one per cent Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund. Some legacy debts are also connected to petroleum importation, coastal transactions and credit arrangements.

Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Bamidele Salam, said the lawmakers were determined to establish how the debts accumulated, what amounts had been recovered and how much remained outstanding.

Salam warned companies summoned by the committee to appear with the appropriate representatives and provide all relevant documents.

He stressed that the investigation was not intended to witch-hunt any company but to ensure that government revenue was properly accounted for and recovered.

The committee is expected to examine the basis for the assessments, the periods covered by the debts, payments made by the affected companies and the enforcement actions taken by the NMDPRA against defaulting entities.

Lawmakers will also investigate why some liabilities have remained outstanding for years and whether the regulatory authority deployed sufficient measures to recover the funds.

The probe comes amid growing scrutiny of revenue collection and accountability in Nigeria’s petroleum industry following the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act.

The NMDPRA, established under the PIA, regulates Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum operations, including petroleum processing, transportation, distribution, domestic gas activities and related infrastructure.

The committee said the investigation forms part of the National Assembly’s constitutional oversight responsibility and would require both the affected companies and the regulatory authority to provide documents needed to establish the true position of the outstanding debts.

Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have foiled a planned kidnapping operation in Oron Local Government Area of the state, recovering a pump-action gun, cartridges, a rope, speedboats and outboard engines.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement issued to journalists in Uyo on Tuesday.

According to John, the operation followed credible intelligence provided by members of the public concerning a suspected plan to carry out a kidnapping operation around the Oron axis.

SEE MORE: VDM Fires Back at Police, Releases First ‘Evidence’ Over Kidnap Claims

She said the information prompted the command to deploy operatives on a joint, intelligence-led operation targeting a suspected criminal camp along the Calabar-Oron channel.

During the operation, the police recovered one pump-action gun, two cartridges and a white rope suspected to have been intended for criminal activities.

The operatives also recovered two speedboats, three 200-horsepower outboard engines and one 15-horsepower outboard engine.

John said all the recovered items had been properly documented and kept in safe custody as investigations continue.
She explained that the operation was part of the command’s sustained intelligence-led and proactive policing strategy designed to identify and disrupt criminal networks before they can execute their plans.

“The strategy is aimed at identifying, disrupting and dismantling criminal networks before they are able to implement their plans.”

The police spokesperson further said the command remained committed to preventing criminals from turning waterways in Cross River into operational corridors, hideouts or escape routes.

She added that the Marine Police Unit had continued to maintain heightened vigilance across strategic waterways and coastal communities in the state.

According to her, the heightened security presence is intended to protect residents of coastal communities, boat operators, fishermen and other users of the waterways.

John also disclosed that the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, CP Baba Azare, expressed satisfaction with the performance of the officers involved in the operation.

She quoted the commissioner as commending the personnel for their professionalism, courage and effective use of actionable intelligence.

“The commissioner of police is happy; the men are working gallantly. He is happy at their display of professionalism, courage and actionable intelligence,” she said.

The police command said it would sustain intelligence-driven operations and heightened surveillance across the state’s waterways to prevent criminal activities and protect lives and property.

A truck, adorned in the brand identities of Nigeria’s state oil major, alleged to be conveying 2,145kg of cannabis arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Ondo State has been disowned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC Ltd).

The NNPC Ltd, in a statement by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, said the intercepted truck was not owned by the company.

The rebuttal, was detailed in a media statement available at the NNPC Ltd’s website has it that Odeh averred that preliminary checks showed that the vehicle, with registration number MKA 960 XC, was neither part of NNPC Ltd.’s official fleet nor that of any of its authorised dealers.

He said the logo displayed on the truck was also inconsistent with NNPC Ltd.’s current official branding and that the vehicle was not listed in the company’s asset database.

“NNPC Ltd. is also engaging with the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) to obtain further information and establish the circumstances surrounding the use of the Company’s old branding on the vehicle.

“NNPC Ltd. takes any unauthorised use of its corporate identity seriously, particularly where such use may be associated with unlawful activity,” he said.

Odeh said the company remained committed to protecting its brand and ensuring that its name, trademarks and other corporate identifiers were not misused.

READ ALSO: CORAN Urges FG to Revive Domestic Refining

He said that the NNPC Ltd. would continue to cooperate with the NDLEA and other relevant security agencies to establish the ownership and operation of the vehicle.

The spokesman said the company also supported a thorough investigation into how its markings came to be displayed on the truck.

He added that the NNPC Ltd. was reviewing its brand-protection and asset-monitoring protocols and would take appropriate measures, including legal action where warranted.

Odeh urged members of the public and relevant authorities to verify the ownership or affiliation of vehicles purporting to belong to the NNPC Ltd. through official channels.

He reiterated the company’s commendation of the NDLEA for its vigilance and sustained efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.