NNPC CEO and CFO travel to Saudi Arabia to lobby Nigerian President

Nigeria’s NNPC CEO and CFO, Mele Kyari and Umar Ajiya respectively, have travelled to Saudi Arabia in an attempt to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari. The two top officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited reportedly departed Nigeria in a private jet on Wednesday, amidst an ongoing probe of the company by lawmakers and corruption allegations against them.

Though they claimed to be traveling for lesser hajj (Umrah), multiple sources suggest that they are actually in Saudi Arabia to lobby for a meeting with President Buhari. According to sources, they also plan to meet with the “President-elect,” Bola Tinubu, but it is doubtful whether he will travel to Saudi Arabia.

Kyari and Ajiya are allegedly facing multiple accusations of corruption, including a $2.4 billion stolen crude oil scam, a N20 billion consultancy payment scam, and a multi-billion-naira gratuity payment scam. Additionally, they have received several petitions from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission. There are concerns that the NNPC officials paid themselves billions of naira in gratuities out of fear of being retired compulsorily by the incoming government of Bola Tinubu, who is expected to be sworn in as President on May 29, 2023, following his supposed victory in the February 25 presidential poll.

Although the Petroleum Industry Act passed by the National Assembly created a board for the NNPC to ensure transparency and accountability, sources claim that Kyari and Ajiya are running the organization like their personal company without any oversight. The PIA Act also allegedly gave the NNPC Group CEO and CFO enormous powers to run the organization without recourse to the President. It is unclear whether the President will grant Kyari and Ajiya a meeting. The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Oil Theft is currently investigating the alleged loss of over $2.4 billion in revenue from the illegal sale of 48 million barrels of crude oil export.