A South Korean agritech company, E Green Global, has been named runner-up in the food category of the 2026 Zayed Sustainability Prize, following an announcement made during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week held from January 13 to 15, 2026.
The small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) specialises in seed potato production and was recognised for its use of microtuber technology, an indoor, laboratory-based system that produces disease-free seed potatoes without traditional greenhouses.
The founder of E Green Global, Mr Keejoon Shin, pictured in a suit during a partnership meeting
Potatoes are the world’s fourth-largest crop by production and the third most consumed food crop globally, according to the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organisation and the International Potato Centre. Yet access to high-quality seed remains a persistent challenge. Industry estimates suggest that only about 20 per cent of seed potatoes meet acceptable quality standards, limiting yields and farmer incomes in many regions.
Founded in 2009 by Keejoon Shin, E Green Global developed a plant-factory system that replaces greenhouse cultivation with controlled light-based production. The company says its approach reduces land use, water consumption, chemical inputs, and carbon emissions, while shortening delivery times.
Today, E Green Global produces more than 10 million seed potatoes annually, supplying farmers across South Korea, the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, and parts of Europe. The company estimates its technology supports agricultural livelihoods linked to roughly 15 million people worldwide.
Speaking during an interview conducted via Microsoft Teams at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, Shin said global disruptions in recent years, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, exposed the fragility of cross-border seed supply chains.
According to him, “Farmers ordered seed potatoes that never arrived,” he said. “Geopolitics directly affected food production and income.”
To address this, the company is pursuing localised seed production systems in partnership with governments and regional operators. In Saudi Arabia, E Green Global has established a joint collaboration aimed at replacing imported seed potatoes, which can cost farmers more than $1,000 per tonne, including shipping, and have a limited storage life.
“If countries can produce their own high-quality seed locally, they gain food security and sovereignty,” he stated.
The company has signed memoranda of understanding (MoU) with regional governments and partners, including a joint venture agreement in China, a production facility in Saudi Arabia, and a local government partnership in Bonghwa County, South Korea. In 2022, E Green Global raised 7.6 billion South Korean won ($5.6 million) for its European subsidiary to expand direct-to-field seed production.
Shin said recognition by the Zayed Sustainability Prize brings visibility to an industry that often operates out of public view.
“This is a closed sector – most people don’t think about where seed potatoes come from,” he said. “Being selected helps bring attention to a fundamental part of the food system.”
E Green Global says its next focus is expansion across the Middle East and Africa, regions where seed quality and affordability remain significant barriers to agricultural productivity.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, has called for practical and collaborative approaches to strengthening local content implementation in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
Lokpobiri made the call on Monday, January 2 in Abuja, at the official pre-conference opening of the 2026 Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) dedicated for Local Content.
The 2026 NIES edition has its theme as “Energy for Peace and Prosperity: Securing our Shared Future”.
Mr. Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil)
Speaking at the event, the minister emphasised that local content remains central to Nigeria’s energy growth and Africa’s broader economic development.
Lokpobiri said that challenges surrounding the implementation of the Local Content Act were among the first issues he confronted upon assuming office.
According to him, while the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act was enacted in 2010 for building indigenous capacity, but its misapplication over the years had contributed to high project costs and limited capacity growth among local companies.
Lokpobiri explained that Nigeria’s oil and gas projects often cost more than similar projects executed abroad, a situation he described as unacceptable.
He however said the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, had begun addressing the issue through Executive Orders and stricter adherence to the true spirit of the Local Content Act.
He said that the Act was never intended to exclude international Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) companies, but rather to promote cooperation between international operators and indigenous firms.
“Nigeria is big enough for both EPC companies and indigenous companies to coexist. Complex offshore projects still require EPC expertise, while collaboration can help reduce costs and improve competitiveness.”
The minister disclosed that engagements are ongoing to bring EPC companies, international oil firms and strong indigenous operators together, with the aim of fostering joint ventures, improving cost efficiency and retaining more value within the country.
He also expressed concern that, in spite of funding provisions under the NOGICD Act, some beneficiary companies failed to build sustainable capacity, instead using the funds for short-term gains.
He said this informed the government’s renewed focus on accountability and strategic oversight in local content implementation.
Lokpobiri said the current administration is committed to ensuring that financing support was accessible to companies genuinely interested in building long-term capacity capable of serving not only Nigeria but the wider African market.
On human capital development, the Minister highlighted the importance of capacity training initiatives by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and private sector partners.
He urged stakeholders at the summit to seize the opportunity presented by the 2026 edition to develop actionable strategies for strengthening local content and growing the Nigerian economy.
“There is no competition between local and international companies. The space is large enough to accommodate everyone through collaboration and shared value creation,” the minister assured.
The Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN) has urged the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) to compel Oando to immediately mobilise to stop an ongoing gas leak from its facility in the Orashi River in Rivers State.
After more than a year of frustrating efforts to get environmental justice, the locals reported the incident to EDEN on January 3, 2026, necessitating a field visit on January 31 for documentation of the impacts.
However, the leak is yet to be clamped and the pollution has gravely affected the Engenni people and other downstream communities.
Gas leak in Orashi River in Rivers State
EDEN field monitors learnt from local community people that they reported the incident to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company when the firm was in charge of the facility and nothing was done. After Oando took over operations it also refused to take any action.
They lamented that the Orashi River is their only source of drinking water and the environment where they fish, even as they cautioned of likely explosions and other hazards that may occur if the gas leak continued.
EDEN Executive Director, Barrister Chima Williams, said: “We are shocked that this impunity and obvious negligence by Oando have been allowed to continue for more than a year. Oando is deliberately provoking the people, and the Nigerian authorities have continued to look away. It is unacceptable.”
Barrister Williams insisted that the NNPC should, as a matter of responsibility and urgency, prevail on Oando to take the needed immediate steps to protect the health and livelihood of the locals by acting promptly and must equally take responsibility for the damages the incident has caused.
He said that AGIP did not have a positive rating with environmental management when it operated the facilities in the community and noted that Oando would seem to have toed the same line of approach.
It will be recalled that EDEN field monitors have documented the situation concerning pipelines originally owned and managed by Agip before Oando became the new owners of the facilities for more than a decade. The web of pipelines right from the company’s Taylor Creek Wells at Ikarama carry different products such as gas, condensate and crude oil. In October 2019, there was an underwater gas leakage on the Taylor Creek; at Kalaba community in Bayelsa State.
Williams said that the impunity must not be allowed to continue and urged the Ahoada West Local Government, Rivers State Ministry of Environment and Federal Ministry of Environment to compel Oando to address the leak and also provide potable water for the people of Oshie and Akinima communities as soon as possible.
WaterAid Nigeria has urged the Bauchi State Cholera Technical Working Group (TWG) to prioritise rehabilitation of dilapidated Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in its budget.
The State Team Lead, Mr. Mashat Mallo, said this at the end of the Cholera TWG meeting on Monday, January 2, 2026, in Bauchi, the state capital.
He said the call was imperative to ensure rapid and effective response to cholera and other water-borne disease outbreaks.
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State
Mallo, represented by Kashim Alex, Business Development Officer, WaterAid, cautioned that over-dependence on donors was unsustainable.
He said donors often channeled funds through Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), specifically for the maintenance and sustainability of WASH facilities.
He, therefore, urged stakeholders to judiciously utilise such resources rather than waiting for fresh interventions.
“You need to review your WASH budgetary allocations and use existing donor-supported resources to fix broken facilities instead of waiting for funders to step in again,” he said.
Mallo expressed optimism over the inauguration of the TWG, which resolved to meet monthly, while its steering committee would convened quarterly.
He hilighted that inclusive collaboration with civil society organisations, religious bodies and the media would strengthen efforts to curb cholera outbreaks in the state.
Dr Sani Dambam, Commissioner for Health and Social Welfare, said the state government would adopt a preventive strategy, focusing on nine thematic areas.
He said that this include disease surveillance; sustained use of oral cholera vaccines, leadership coordination, risk communication and community engagement,” Dambam said.
Dambam urged stakeholders to intensify sensitisation against unhygienic practices, especially during the first quarter of the year when cholera cases usually peak.
In the early hours of January 19, 2026, at about 1:16 a.m., Mrs. Mmseoma was travelling with her pregnant daughter-in-law and two grandchildren when their bus ran into a long standstill on the Lokoja-Abuja highway.
After enduring long hours in the gridlock, the travellers finally felt a brief sense of relief as traffic began to clear slowly. However, that relief soon gave way to unease when they encountered groups of cattle accompanied by herders crossing the road in the dead of night, a sight that stirred deep fear amid widespread concerns about insecurity and highway kidnappings in Nigeria.
Gridlock on Lokoja-Abuja highway
“Because of the kidnapping stories we watch and hear about in Nigeria, I thought we were about to be kidnapped,” she recalled. “It was midnight. I was with children and a pregnant woman, so fear gripped me.”
Passengers and the driver later assured her that the cattle belonged to migrating herders moving their livestock due to seasonal changes. As the bus drove past without incident, her fear eased.
That calm, however, did not last.
Soon after, the vehicle ran into another gridlock, this time lasting several hours. By then, it was past 2 a.m., and passengers were asked to disembark. Soldiers and other visibly exhausted men, some of them fellow travellers who had removed their shirts because of the heat, worked through the night to manage the congestion, directing vehicles through narrow gaps to create space for movement. At various points, passengers sat or lay on the bare ground to rest while waiting for traffic to clear.
“My grandchildren needed to relieve themselves. One young woman was crying because she was menstruating and had no convenient place to change. My pregnant daughter-in-law also had to come down,” Mrs. Mmseoma said. “It was a very bad experience, and we didn’t even know what caused the gridlock.”
“If I had money, I would advise people to fly,” she added. “Nigerian roads are not safe for long-distance travel.”
Sleeping in Reception Areas
For another traveller, Jidex, the journey turned into an overnight ordeal weeks earlier, on December 22, 2025.
After leaving Abuja early in the morning, his vehicle reached Lokoja by 10 a.m. and then remained stuck under the scorching sun and heat until late evening. By nightfall, the driver advised passengers to stop at Kabba, warning that the next stretch of road would be dangerous after midnight.
“I didn’t have money for a hotel room, and everywhere was already full,” Jidex said. “I begged the hotel manager to allow me to sleep in the receptionist’s area because nobody wanted to inconvenience their room space further.”
He described the experience as humiliating and exhausting, one he never expected from a major federal highway.
Why the Gridlocks Keep Happening
Residents and youth leaders in Lokoja say the recurring gridlocks are not mysterious.
Abdulkadir Hamisu, a Lokoja resident, explained that the highway is meant to be a dual carriageway, but construction on one lane remains incomplete.
“Most times, tankers and trucks carrying coal have accidents on the road,” he said. “When that happens, they completely block one lane. Since the other lane is still under construction, movement becomes very difficult.”
According to him, during the December festive period, a fallen tanker blocked the road for several days.
“People had to abandon their vehicles and use motorcycles to pass through Lokoja to their destinations,” Hamisu said. “The gridlock lasted about eight days because the tanker was not removed on time.”
Another resident, Yahaya Muktar, identified poor road conditions around First NNPC, Felele, Nataco, and New Market as major contributors.
“Lokoja is a gateway to many states, so during Christmas, New Year, and Sallah, traffic volume becomes extremely high,” he said. “With bad roads and frequent accidents, the situation quickly turns into gridlock.”
Market days also worsen congestion, as heavy trucks dominate the highway, leaving little room for smaller vehicles and pedestrians.
Muktar further explained that protests sometimes erupt after accidents, further delaying traffic for hours.
Efforts to speak with relevant government and road management officials proved futile as of the time of filing in this report.
Environmental and Safety Costs
Beyond inconvenience, residents say the gridlocks carry environmental and public-health consequences.
Hours-long idling by trucks and vehicles increases air pollution, especially in densely populated parts of Lokoja. The dominance of fuel tankers and coal trucks also raises concerns about spills, fire risks, and harmful emissions along the corridor.
Women, children, the elderly, and pregnant travellers are often the most affected, forced to spend long hours outdoors without access to toilets, shelter, or clean water.
Known Solutions but Slow Action
Residents interviewed agree that solutions are not far-fetched.
They include completing the second lane of the highway, creating alternative routes for heavy-duty trucks, restricting tanker movement to specific hours, enforcing speed limits to reduce accidents, and improving emergency response time for clearing fallen vehicles.
“The problem is not that we don’t know what to do,” Hamisu said. “The problem is that it is not done on time.”
Travellers like Mrs. Mmseoma say every journey along the Lokoja-Abuja highway remains a gamble, one that exposes families not only to traffic delays, but to fear, environmental stress, and physical risk.
The Abia State Government has validated its climate change policy, emphasising disability inclusion, during a stakeholders’ engagement organised by the Ministry of Environment.
The final review, held on Saturday, January 31, 2026, involved MDAs, local government climate desk officers, chambers of commerce, disability clusters, farmers, women groups and other stakeholders.
The draft policy was presented by a technical team from the Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagements.
Gov. Alex Otti of Abia State
The Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Philemon Ogbonna, said consultations since 2024 aimed to produce a climate policy meeting international standard.
Represented by Permanent Secretary, Mr. Ikechukwu Oriuwa, Ogbonna said the policy aligned with Gov. Alex Otti’s commitment to sustainable environmental initiatives.
The Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr. Kingsley Anosike, said a strong climate policy was essential for driving effective climate action implementation.
“Our budget is green, with climate-related activities captured across sectors.
“Our new buildings are climate-friendly, and over 9,000 street lights installed so far run on solar energy.
“There is much we can do to slow ozone depletion, even if we cannot completely stop it,” Anosike said.
The Chairman, Abia Disability Commission, Mr. David Anyaele, said participation aimed to ensure disability inclusion in the final policy.
“People with disabilities are among the most vulnerable during flooding, erosion and heat waves.
“We want the final document to reflect the governor’s directive that all policies must be disability-inclusive,” he said.
The Acting Executive Director of CCD, Mr. Godwin Unumeri, commended the ministry for developing an inclusive policy reflecting stakeholders’ concerns.
Unumeri said CCD began related research in 2024 on disability-inclusive climate adaptation and mitigation strategies in Abia.
“The policy development started around the same time as our research.
“We have consistently made inputs, and the ministry has shown willingness to capture all groups’ needs,” he said.
On PwDs’ participation, Unumeri said: “We needed them present to listen and advise us on inputs to forward to the ministry.”
Experts, power sector operators and electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) have expressed divergent views on the Federal Government’s directive mandating the rollout of free prepaid meters to electricity consumers nationwide.
They said this with reacting to the directive in an interview on Sunday, February 1, 2026, in Lagos.
The Minister of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, on Jan. 26 directed all electricity DisCos to provide prepaid meters free of charge to customers across all tariff bands.
Minister of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu
An energy expert, Dr Olukayode Akinrolabu, said the initiative was a critical step toward transparency, fairness and trust in the electricity sector.
Akinrolabu, who chairs the Customer Consultative Forum for Festac and Satellite Town, urged DisCos to move beyond delays and excuses.
Accoding to him, they can integrate all postpaid customers into the Federal Government’s metering rollout without hesitation and the process must be deliberate, comprehensive and timely.
He said funding for the rollout was anchored on the N28 billion Meter Acquisition Fund (MAF), complemented by private sector participation through the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) model.
Akinrolabu, however, cautioned that given the operational and financial challenges confronting DisCos, the implementation timeline appeared ambitious.
This, stressed, would require significant capacity building, logistics support and strategic partnerships.
“To guarantee accountability, regulators have introduced milestone-based disbursements, system integration requirements, and penalties for delays,” he said.
He added that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had mandated DisCos to integrate their systems with the fund manager’s IT infrastructure and complete Know-Your-Customer (KYC) procedures.
Akinrolabu further emphasised that sanctions should be imposed on DisCos for installation delays arising from poor network readiness or inaccurate customer data.
He identified inaccurate customer demographic information, often linked to energy theft and collusion with some DisCo staff, as a major impediment to effective implementation.
According to him, the N28 billion allocated under the MAF Tranche B scheme would be disbursed strictly for meter procurement and installation.
Recalling past interventions, Akinrolabu said the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) programme and the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) were Federal Government initiatives designed to reduce the financial burden of metering on consumers.
“I am strongly convinced that this initiative is a step in the right direction.
“The structural reforms, particularly in logistics and manpower, are essential for success,” the expert said.
Akinrolabu disclosed that NERC had directed DisCos to appoint credible Meter Asset Providers with ready-to-deploy inventory and at least 30 per cent local content compliances.
He noted that MAPs were also responsible for addressing manpower gaps in meter installation.
Meanwhile, the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company Plc (IBEDC) has expressed strong support for the Federal Government’s free metering initiatives.
Mrs. Angela Olanrewaju, Coordinating Head, Corporate Services, IBEDC, said the company aligned with all efforts aimed at expanding meter access and reducing its nearly 40 per cent metering gap.
According to her, the Federal Government has facilitated several free metering schemes which include the NERC-backed Meter Acquisition Fund and the World Bank-supported Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP).
“For both schemes, the meters and installation are completely free,” Olanrewaju said.
She added that IBEDC consistently sensitises customers not to pay installers or company staff, as the process incurs no cost to beneficiaries.
Olanrewaju noted that customers on Bands C to E, who were unwilling to wait for the free schemes, could opt for the MAP programme.
Under the programme, She noted that customers would have to pay upfront and would be refunded through energy credits over time.
She reiterated that increased metering across all bands was essential for service improvement, accurate billing and a more efficient electricity market.
Olanrewaju disclosed that since April 2025, about 102,000 smart meters had been allocated to IBEDC under the MAF and DISREP schemes and were currently being deployed.
She clarified that customers do not need to apply or register for the schemes, as deployment is carried out systematically.
However, some DisCo officials, who spoke anonymously, expressed reservations about the minister’s directive mandating free meters for all customer categories.
They argued that the policy did not adequately consider the concerns of installers and meter providers.
The officials added that the so-called “free” meters would still be paid for by DisCos over a period of up to 10 years.
“Someone must pay for installation.
“If DisCos are required to fund capital expenditure, it must be recognised as allowable capex and factored into tariffs.
“Otherwise, it could cripple their balance sheets,” one official said.
Another operator described the directive as a populist move.
“If the government can pay installers, there will be no issue. Otherwise, it remains unclear who will shoulder that responsibility,” another official added.
Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) has commenced a turnaround maintenance activity at the Bonga Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel. The exercise is a statutory and integrity assurance programme aimed at extending the life of the facility.
“The schedule maintenance activity is designed to ensure the FPSO continues to operate safely and efficiently for the next 15 years, while reducing unplanned deferments and strengthening the asset’s overall resilience,” said SNEPCo Managing Director, Ronald Adams. “We expect to resume operations in March following the completion of the turnaround.”
Bonga Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO)
The scope of work includes statutory inspections, certification and regulatory compliance checks, major asset -integrity upgrades as well as engineering modifications to improve long-term operations and subsea assurance activities.
The FPSO located approximately 120 km offshore in water depths exceeding 1,000 meters, has the capacity to produce 225,000 barrels of oil and 150 million standard cubic feet of gas per day. Maintaining the integrity of this critical national asset is essential to supporting stable production and Nigeria’s wider energy, security and revenue objectives.
This year’s turnaround comes at a strategic moment for SNEPCo and its co‑venture partners. In 2024, the partners took Final Investment Decision on Bonga North, a subsea tie‑back development that will depend on the reliability and enhanced capacity of the Bonga FPSO. A successful turnaround maintenance is therefore essential to preparing the facility for the additional volumes and operational demands associated with the new development.
The last turnaround maintenance activity on the FPSO took place in October 2022. On February 1 the following year, the asset delivered its 1 billionth barrel of oil since production commenced in 2005.
SNEPCo operates the Bonga field in partnership with Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Deepwater) Limited and Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited, under a Production Sharing Contract with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd).
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a new $3.9 million, two-year technical assistance project to support African countries in implementing their National Energy Compacts under Mission 300, the AfDB-World Bank initiative aimed at connecting 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030.
The project, known as AESTAP Mission 300 Phase II, is designed to help countries move from policy commitments to tangible electricity connections for households, schools, hospitals and businesses.
Energy Compacts are national plans through which governments outline how they will expand electricity access, strengthen power sector performance and attract private investment.
Wale Shonibare, AfDB Director of Energy Financial Solutions, Policy and Regulation
Over the past year, dozens of African countries have launched such compacts, backed by high-level political commitments and pledges from development partners.
Under Phase II, direct technical support will be provided to 13 Mission 300 countries over the next 24 months.
These are Chad, Gabon, Tanzania, Mauritania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, Madagascar, Ethiopia, Malawi, Lesotho, Namibia and Uganda.
In practical terms, the project will help governments improve electricity regulations, planning frameworks, and tariff systems to unlock investment; strengthen power utilities to reduce losses and improve reliability; and enhance data, research and knowledge-sharing across countries through tools such as the Electricity Regulatory Index and regional energy forums.
The programme will also embed expert advisers within national Compact Delivery and Monitoring Units (CDMUs) to support coordination of reforms across government and to track implementation progress.
Wale Shonibare, AfDB Director of Energy Financial Solutions, Policy and Regulation, said countries had made “bold commitments” through their Energy Compacts.
“Now, through AESTAP Mission 300 Phase II, we are helping them implement those commitments so that more households, entrepreneurs and communities actually get electricity,” he said.
The approval follows AESTAP Mission 300 Phase I, endorsed in December 2025, which allocated about $1 million to help countries establish and operationalise their CDMUs.
Phase I focused on building delivery capacity by training staff, setting up monitoring systems and supporting implementation planning.
Phase II builds on this foundation by providing deeper technical assistance to drive reforms and deliver results on the ground.
The AfDB said the project will be implemented in close coordination with other Mission 300 partners, including the World Bank, national governments and development organisations, to ensure a coherent and aligned approach.
Mission 300 is seen as one of Africa’s most ambitious efforts to close the continent’s electricity access gap, where more than 600 million people still lack reliable power.
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited over the “failure to account for the alleged missing or diverted N22.3 billion, $49.7 million, £14.3 million and €5.2 million oil money.”
The suit followed the damning allegations documented in the 2022 audited report by the Auditor-General of the Federation, which was published on 9 September 2025.
In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/195/2026 filed on Friday, January 30, 2026, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is seeking “an order of mandamus to direct and compel the NNPC to account for the alleged missing or diverted N22.3 billion, $49.7 million, £14.3 million, and €5.2 million oil money.”
NNPC Towers
SERAP is asking the court to “direct and compel the NNPC to disclose the specific financial transactions carried out in respect of the alleged missing or diverted N22.3 billion, $49.7 million, £14.3 million and €5.2 million oil money, including details of disbursement, the contractors, and other individuals who collected the money.”
In the suit, SERAP is arguing that: “The diverted or misappropriated oil revenues reflect a failure of NNPC accountability more generally and are directly linked to the institution’s continuing failure to uphold the principles of transparency and accountability.”
SERAP is also arguing that “granting the reliefs sought would strike a blow against the impunity of those responsible for the missing or diverted oil money and ensure that the money is returned for the sake of NNPCL’s victims – Nigerians.”
SERAP said, “The allegations have also undermined the economic development of the country, trapped the majority of Nigerians in poverty and deprived them of opportunities.”
According to SERAP, “The Auditor-General has for many years documented reports of disappearance of oil money from the NNPC. Nigerians continue to bear the brunt of these missing oil money meant to provide essential public services for Nigerians.”
SERAP is also arguing that, “Combating the corruption epidemic in the oil sector would alleviate poverty, improve access of Nigerians to basic public goods and services, and enhance the ability of the government to meet its human rights and anti-corruption obligations.”
The lawsuit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Oluwakemi Agunbiade and Valentina Adegoke, reads in part: “The diverted or misappropriated oil revenues have further damaged the already precarious economy and contributed to very high levels of deficit spending and borrowing by the government.
“Despite the country’s enormous oil wealth, ordinary Nigerians have derived very little benefit from oil money primarily because of the widespread grand corruption including in the NNPC, and the entrenched culture of impunity of perpetrators.
“The grim allegations by the Auditor-General suggest a grave violation of the public trust and the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, national anticorruption laws, and the country’s international human rights and anticorruption obligations.
“According to the 2022 audited report by the Auditor General of the Federation, published on 9 September 2025, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC) failed to account for over N22.3 billion, $49.7 million, £14.3 million and €5.2 million oil money.
“The NNPC in 2020 reportedly paid over N292 million (N292,609,972.29]) ‘for a contract to construct an Accident and Emergency Facility along Airport Road, Abuja.’ But ‘the contractor has abandoned the contract, and failed to execute the job, despite collecting the fee’.
“The Auditor-General fears the contract money may have been ‘diverted’. He wants the money ‘recovered from the contractor and remitted to the treasury.’
“The NNPC in 2021 also reportedly spent over £14 million (£14,322,426.59) ‘to repair its London office.’ But ‘there was no evidence to show that the money was actually spent, and no documents of any spending’.”
“The NNPCL also ‘irregularly paid’ over $22 million ($22,842,938.28) to a contractor for lifting 9 cargoes of crude oil.’ The NNPC ‘failed to explain why the amount due to it from crude from January to October 2019 was only $4,858,997.22 and why the contractor got over $22 million for crude for the same period.’”
“The NNPC in 2021 ‘irregularly paid N2.3 billion (N2,379,488,622.99) as car cash option to 100 staff’ but ‘without the approval of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission’, and ‘without any document to show that the 100 staff applied for the cash options and any rationale for the payments.’
“The NNPC in 2021 also reportedly ‘failed to deduct statutory taxes of over N247 million (N247,181,597.92) from payments made to contractors and service providers.’ The NNPC also ‘failed to deduct statutory taxes of over $529,000 ($529,863.24) from payments made to contractors and service providers.’
“The NNPC ‘paid over N3 billion (N3,445,022,107.40) for various services’ but ‘without any documents or trace’. The Auditor-General fears ‘the money may have diverted’.
“The NNPC ‘irregularly renewed a contract for over $1 million ($1,801,500.00) for charter hire of coastal vessel.’ The money was paid ‘before the consummation of a formal contract ratification.’
“The NNPC also ‘irregularly paid a contractor over N355 million (N355,436,310.42) as consultancy fees for negotiating and securing waiver to avoid demurrage on abandoned cargoes.’
“The NNPC ‘paid over N474 million (N474,462,744.53) to a contractor for the connection of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited to the National Grid.’ The Auditor-General is concerned ‘the money may have been lost’.
“The NNPC ‘paid over $2 million ($2,006,293.20) to a contractor for the rehabilitation and upgrade of system-depot project’, but ‘without any documents’. The NNPC also ‘paid over N478 million (N478,505,300.00) to a contractor for the rehabilitation and upgrade of system-depot project’, but ‘without any documents’.
“The NNPC in 2019 ‘awarded a contract for over $8 million ($8, 211,432.00) ‘for the emergency procurement and installation of custody transfer meters on crude oil and product pipelines at eleven locations.’ The Auditor-General fears that ‘the payments may be for work not executed.’
“The NNPC ‘irregularly paid over €5 million (€5,165,426.26) to a contractor for the operation and maintenance of Atlas Cove Jetty Facility’ but ‘without any documents.’ The Auditor-General fears that ‘the money may have been diverted’.
“The NNPC ‘paid over $1 million ($1,035,132.81) as legacy debt for charter hire of coastal vessels to a company without power of attorney.’ The Auditor-General fears that ‘the money may have been diverted’.
“The NNPC ‘inflated a contract for over $1 million ($1,926,497.38) to hire a Time Charter for Carriage of Petroleum Products.’ The Auditor-General fears that ‘the money may have been diverted’.
“The NNPC ‘paid $156,000.00 to a consultant as outstanding fee for advising on the financing of the rehabilitation of PHRC’, but ‘the payment is doubtful’’. The Auditor-General fears that ‘the money may have been diverted’.
“The NNPC ‘failed to deduct $8,355.18 as taxes from the payment of outstanding fees to a consultant for advising on the financing of the rehabilitation of PHRC.’
“The NNPC ‘irregularly paid over N82 million (N82,647,151.00) to a consultant for geotechnical/geophysical investigations of the proposed Independent Power Plant Project site.’ But ‘there was no document showing any evidence of payment’. The Auditor-General fears that ‘the money may have been diverted.’
“The NNPC ‘paid over N246 million (N246,196,566.00) for a contract for the purchase and supply of 2400 meters of seamless carbon steel pipe to Warri Refinery Petrochemicals Company Limited.’ But ‘the contract was not never executed, and the items were not supplied.’
“The NNPC ‘failed to deduct over N46 million (N46,244,033.79) as taxes from a consultancy contract in December 2020 and 2021.’ The Auditor-General wants ‘the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.’
“The NNPC ‘irregularly paid N200 million (N200,000,000.00) as settlement for tax renegotiation.’ The Auditor-General fears that ‘the money may have been diverted.’
“The NNPC ‘failed to remit over N12 billion (N12,721,000,000.00) into the general reserve fund its operating surplus for December 2020.’ The Auditor-General fears that ‘the money may have been diverted.’
“The NNPC ‘irregularly paid N152 million (N152,000,000.00) to a company to execute a procurement contract requested from the Office of the Inspector-General of Police’, but ‘without any documents.’
“The NNPC ‘irregularly paid N25,000,000.00 as additional consultancy fee on a contract for accounting support.’ The Auditor-General fears that ‘the money may have been diverted.’ He wants ‘the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.’
“The NNPC ‘paid over $12 million ($12,444,313.22) to a contractor to buy and install new diesel generation set at Mosimi Depot.’ But there is no evidence that the project has been fully executed ‘despite the fact that the contract specified that the project awarded in 2020 should be completed within 15 months.’
“The NNPC ‘irregularly paid over N145 million (N145,933,833.00) for a contract for the operation and maintenance of Electro-Mechanical Facilities in the NNPC Towers. The ‘contract was automatically renewed on yearly basis without creating room for a fresh contract where other consultants would be given an opportunity of being considered’. The Auditor-General wants the money accounted for.
“The NNPC ‘paid 13 contractors over N1 billion (N1,212,192,409.97) for various works between 2020 and 2021’, but ‘there is no evidence of any work done by the contractors as there were no supporting documents’.”
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
