By Our Reporter

The former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, has dismissed allegations of ₦210 trillion in unaccounted funds raised by the Senate, insisting that no money was lost under his watch.

Kyari said the allegations relating to the company’s financial records between 2017 and 2023 were based on misconstrued entries and accounting issues.

He spoke on Tuesday when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, which is investigating queries raised by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation over NNPCL’s financial records during the period.

Explaining the issues, Kyari said the company had made efforts to implement decisions of the National Assembly, resulting in sustained investments and the development of the downstream sector for the benefit of the country.

“I am very proud that we have served this company in the best way possible. I remain loyal to this country and have done nothing deliberately wrong,” he said.

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On payments made to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Kyari explained that they were for registration purposes, describing the discrepancies as entry issues. He also said the ₦2.9 billion in question represented statutory payments.

Addressing the allegation that ₦5 billion was spent on renaming the NNPCL, the former GMD said the company’s name change was effected by the National Assembly, insisting that no money was paid for the exercise.

Kyari subsequently presented his report to the committee.

In his response, the committee chairman said 23 issues had been raised before the panel, with only one or two relating to the former NNPCL chief.

He said the report would be circulated among committee members for examination, adding that the panel could invite those concerned, as well as the Auditor-General of the Federation, for further clarification if necessary.

“We accept your apologies for not appearing at the previous sittings, and we will look at the figures,” the chairman said.

Kyari was subsequently discharged by the committee pending the conclusion of its investigation.

The Senate Committee on Public Accounts began investigating the disputed figures in June 2025 after discrepancies were identified in NNPCL’s audited financial statements covering 2017 to 2023.

The figures comprise ₦103 trillion recorded as accrued expenses and ₦107 trillion listed as sundry receivables. The committee has repeatedly rejected the explanations provided by the company, insisting that the entries must be properly accounted for.

In March 2026, the panel summoned Kyari and other former officials to explain the figures. It later ordered Kyari’s arrest in June after he failed to appear before it. However, former NNPCL officials have denied that the money went missing, arguing that the ₦210 trillion figure arose from a misinterpretation of the company’s financial records.

By Prosper Okoye

Nigeria’s anti-trafficking network is seeking to improve relations with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in some states, as it pushes for closer coordination between government agencies and civil society organisations.

Osita Osemene, president of the Network of Civil Society Organisations Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL), said on Tuesday that his administration would prioritise repairing strained relationships between NAPTIP state commands and the network’s chapters.

Speaking at the 29th National Stakeholders Consultative Forum on Human Trafficking in Nigeria in Abuja, Osemene said poor relations in some states had weakened the collaboration needed to tackle trafficking.

“I have seen that in some states the relationship between NAPTIP command and NACTAL are strained. We shall change this,” he said.

He also called for greater unity among civil society organisations, urging NAPTIP’s director-general to encourage organisations working with the agency to become members of NACTAL.

Osemene appealed to non-governmental organisations and other civil society groups to register with the network, saying a common platform would improve coordination and strengthen Nigeria’s reporting on human trafficking.

“We want to achieve a good coordination. A country with a good coordination will make a good report because we are going to be reporting as one,” he said.

He said his administration would also focus on building the capacity of NACTAL members to strengthen their contribution to anti-trafficking efforts and improve collaboration at state and federal levels.

Citing engagements with anti-trafficking organisations in Ghana, Mali, Senegal and other countries, Osemene said Nigeria had made progress in government-civil society collaboration.

“We noticed that Nigeria is at the top,” he said, adding that NACTAL would strengthen its relationship with NAPTIP.

NAPTIP Director-General Binta Lami Adamu Bello also stressed the importance of collaboration, describing human trafficking as a continuing challenge that disproportionately affects women.

She raised concerns about the absence of NAPTIP commands in some states, specifically mentioning Delta, which she described as a major trafficking route.

Bello said state anti-trafficking task forces had been established in 25 states, while 10 states were yet to establish theirs. She called for stronger cooperation among states and partners to ensure responses were coordinated and responsive to emerging trafficking trends.

She expressed hope that the forum would provide an opportunity to review the country’s 2027 National Action Plan on Trafficking in Persons.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi said the Tinubu administration remained committed to combating human trafficking, arguing that poverty and vulnerability created conditions that traffickers exploited.

He said government programmes under the Renewed Hope Agenda were intended to reduce poverty, while reforms to the judicial system and improved intelligence sharing would help bring perpetrators to justice.

Fagbemi also called for greater state participation in funding anti-trafficking efforts, saying responsibility should not rest solely with the federal government because victims and perpetrators came from the states.

He urged stakeholders to use the review of the 2027 national action plan to address identified gaps, strengthen public awareness and improve prevention efforts.

Javier Leon, deputy team lead of FIAP, said Nigeria had made important efforts to combat trafficking but warned that no institution could address the problem alone.

He said cooperation, trust and shared commitment among government agencies, civil society and international partners were essential to achieving lasting results.

He described the impending end of the current National Action Plan as an opportunity to assess progress, identify shortcomings and establish priorities for the next plan.

Leon said the success of anti-trafficking efforts should not be measured only by the number of meetings held or officers trained, but also by the lives protected, victims supported and people prevented from falling into trafficking.

Other organisations and international partners at the forum also delivered goodwill messages, pledging continued support for Nigeria’s efforts to combat human trafficking and stressing the need for stronger collaboration among government institutions, civil society groups and development partners. They included the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Swiss Embassy, the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), the European Union (EU), UNODC and other stakeholders.

By Chidera Orji

The Central Bank of Nigeria, Asaba branch has made a strategic move to collaborate with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Delta State Command, acknowledging the fact that CBN buildings are critical national aassets and the need to boost theqqa existing relationship with NSCDC Delta command ahead of the forthcoming 2027 general election.

The CBN Asaba Branch Controller, Mr.Alexander Imokhai who sort for the collaboration when he led some senior officers of the branch on a courtesy call to the State Commandant of NSCDC in Delta, Chinedu F. Igbo, noted that agencies of the Federal Government are expected to understand their various roles and mandates, also know the place of strategic partnership with relevant government security agencies such as the NSCDC to boost their ability to deliver on their mandate as a regulatory bank.

A press statement by DSC Anthony Uchenna, the. CDPRO
Delta State Command of NSCDC, added that CBN Delta State branch boss appreciated Commandant Chinedu for the prompt and warm reception and promised to work with NSCDC Delta State especially in the area of protection of the sensitive materials that will be deposited in the custody of the Apex bank for use in the forthcoming 2027 general election. .

Commandant Chinedu in his response appreciated Mr. Imokhai for the visit to the command, stating that the visit was indeed timely and of necessity. He acknowledged the fact that the CBN has always worked with the Corps in the past, adding that both agencies have maintained good relationship till date.

He however called the attention of the CBN to the need for partnership with the Corps in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility as the NSCDC still requires a lot of support to deliver on the enormous mandate in Delta State.

Commandant Chinedu while requesting to know the private guard company the bank engaged and their status; assured the CBN delegation of his unflinching support at every point in time and whenever he is called upon.