NEWS
SERAP Sues Tinubu Over Petrol Price Hike, Demands Probe Of NNPCL
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has taken legal action against President Bola Tinubu for failing to order the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to reverse the controversial petrol price increase.
The organization is also calling for an investigation into allegations of corruption and mismanagement within the NNPCL.
SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare disclosed this in a statement released on Sunday.
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The lawsuit, filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja (FHC/ABJ/CS/1361/2024), lists the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, along with the NNPCL, as respondents.
SERAP is urging the court to mandate Tinubu to direct the NNPCL to revert the petrol price from N845 to N600 per litre, labeling the hike as “unjust, illegal, unconstitutional, and unreasonable.”
Additionally, SERAP is asking the court to compel the president to investigate the alleged corruption in the NNPCL.
This includes probing how the company spent $300 million in bailout funds from the government in August 2024 and the NNPCL’s $6 billion debt to suppliers, amid claims of its failure to remit oil revenues to the national treasury.
In its argument, SERAP states that the price hike is worsening the already dire economic conditions in Nigeria, pushing more people into poverty.
It contends that holding the NNPCL accountable for mismanagement would benefit public interest and fulfill Nigeria’s obligations under its constitution and international human rights laws.
The legal filing, prepared by SERAP’s lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, argues that the petrol price increase violates constitutional rights and undermines basic human dignity.
It reads in part, “The increase in petrol price constitutes a fundamental breach of constitutional guarantees and the country’s international human rights obligations.
“Corruption in the oil sector and the lack of transparency and accountability in the use of public funds to support the operations of the NNPC have resulted in persistent and unlawful hike in petrol prices.
“Increasing petrol prices at a time when millions of Nigerians continue to face worsening economic conditions is entirely inconsistent with constitutional and international obligations to ensure the minimum living conditions compatible with human dignity.
“The arbitrary increase has placed a disproportionate burden on the marginalized and most vulnerable sectors of society, particularly those disadvantaged by poverty.
“The increase is seriously jeopardizing their living conditions, as well as individuals’ physical, emotional, and individual development, and intensifying and worsening socioeconomic conditions in the country.
“The increase constitutes a serious human rights problem because of the intensity with which it undermines the enjoyment and exercise by Nigerians of their human rights and renders their civic participation illusory.
“The fundamental right to life includes not only the right of every Nigerian not to be deprived of his/her life arbitrarily, but also the right that he/she will not be prevented from having access to the conditions that guarantee a dignified existence.
“The growing poverty and inequality in the country has continued to adversely affect the right of Nigerians to participatory democracy, and impede their ability to participate in their own government.
“Nigerians have for far too long been denied justice and the opportunity to get to the bottom of why they continue to pay the price for corruption in the oil sector. The increase in petrol price has rendered already impoverished citizens incapable of satisfying their minimum needs for survival.
“The increase is not inevitable, as it stems from the persistent failure of successive governments to address the allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the oil sector and the impunity of suspected perpetrators.
“Persistent increase in petrol prices keep people in poverty which in turn perpetuates discriminatory attitudes and practices against them.
“The government has a legal obligation to mobilize the maximum of the country’s available resources to ensure people’s socio-economic rights and to protect the most vulnerable and disadvantaged Nigerians.
“The government also has the legal obligations to probe and prosecute allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the NNPC, and to ensure access to justice and effective remedies for victims of corruption.
“Investigating and prosecuting the allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the oil sector would be entirely consistent with the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], and the country’s international anti-corruption obligations.
“Section 13 of the Nigerian Constitution imposes clear responsibility on the government to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the constitution. Section 15(5) imposes the responsibility on the government to ‘abolish all corrupt practices’ including in the NNPC.
“Under Section 16(1) of the Constitution, the government has a responsibility to ‘secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen on the basis of social justice and equality of status and opportunity.’
“Section 16(2) further provides that, ‘the material resources of the nation are harnessed and distributed as best as possible to serve the common good.
“According to our information, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited recently increased the price of premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, across its retail outlets.
“The price of the product increased to N855 per litre, from about N600, and in some instances above N900 per litre. The apparently unlawful increase in petrol price followed a scarcity caused by the reported refusal by suppliers to import petroleum products for the NNPCL over a $6 billion debt.
“The NNPC allegedly failed to remit USD$2.04 billion and N164 billion of oil revenues into the public treasury, as documented in the recently published 2020 annual report by the Auditor-General of the Federation.” it added
A hearing date for the suit has not yet been scheduled.
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in collaboration with Zeconia Global Investment CO. Ltd, has successfully completed the Training on Digital Oilfield Operation & Data Analytics for 50 participants in Lagos State.
The 5-day intensive capacity-building program, which was held from September 28 to October 2, 2026 in Lagos, came to a successful close with participants equipped with cutting-edge digital skills for the oil and gas industry.
The training was designed to bridge the digital gap in the sector, exposing beneficiaries to practical knowledge on digital oilfield architecture, production optimization, real-time data monitoring, IoT applications, predictive analytics, and data-driven decision making in upstream operations.
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At the closing ceremony, the Managing Director of Zeconia Global Investment Co. Ltd, Olawore Oladipupo, conducted the official handover to participants, applauding their commitment, active participation and eagerness to learn throughout the duration of the training.
He charged them to leverage the knowledge gained to add value to the industry and position themselves for emerging opportunities in the digital energy space.
Participants expressed profound appreciation to NCDMB and Zeconia Global for the life-changing opportunity, describing the training as impactful, practical and timely for the evolving global oil and gas landscape.
The programme once again demonstrates NCDMB’s unwavering commitment to human capital development, local content growth and strategic partnerships aimed at empowering Nigerians with relevant skills for the future of work.
As the Nigerian government intensifies efforts to lure fresh investment into the upstream sector, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), has unveiled 40 oil blocks for the 2026 licensing round.
The blocks, located across land, shallow water and deepwater terrains, will be open to investors with the technical competence, financial capacity and commitment to develop Nigeria’s petroleum resources.
The NUPRC Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, announced the licensing round during her closing remarks at the commission’s fifth anniversary celebration in Abuja on Tuesday.
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She disclosed that the exercise has the blessings of both President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Petroleum Resources.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the wait is over. It is with great joy that I announce that pursuant to the approval of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian 2026 Licensing Round is hereby announced,” Eyesan said.
She said the round would offer 40 blocks across land, shallow water and deepwater terrains to investors with the requisite technical and financial capacity.
Eyesan said the 2026 bid round would introduce enhanced transparency measures, including mandatory disclosure of the beneficial owners of every bidder.
She added that the commission would provide greater disclosure of the evaluation methodology and results, stressing that transparency and predictability were essential to attracting upstream investment.
According to her, competition for upstream capital had become increasingly intense as investors now had multiple jurisdictions from which to choose.
“We will not rest on our oars. Competition for upstream capital is fierce, and it grows fiercer by the day. Investors have choices. They go where the rules are clear, where the process is predictable and where data can be trusted,” she said.
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate for the 2027 election, Atiku Abubakar, has expressed deep sadness over the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Ondo State that claimed 25 lives.
Atiku disclosed this in a statement posted on X on Tuesday, describing the tragedy as heartbreaking and extending his condolences to the families of the victims and the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, with registration number NGR 931, crashed in the Inbound area of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State on Monday while on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos.
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The aircraft disappeared from radar after air traffic controllers lost contact with it at about 9:13 a.m.
Its wreckage was later located near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, where search-and-rescue operations were launched.
The Nigerian Air Force subsequently confirmed that 25 people were on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers, with no survivors.
Reacting to the tragedy, Atiku said the scale and circumstances of the crash were heartbreaking.
“Among those who lost their lives were airmen, soldiers and members of their families,” he said.
He added that the victims included people whose lives were dedicated to service, as well as families and individuals whose lives were cut short in the tragedy.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the families of all the deceased,” Atiku said.
He noted that no words could adequately comfort parents who had lost their children, children who had lost their parents, or families suddenly deprived of their loved ones.
Atiku also extended his heartfelt condolences to the Nigerian Air Force and the Armed Forces of Nigeria, as well as the governments and people of Nigeria and Ondo State.
He prayed that Almighty God would grant eternal rest to the souls of the departed, comfort their grieving families and give the Nigerian Air Force and the nation the strength to bear the painful loss.
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