Asari Dokubo’s N2.7trn Allegation: Group Calls On FG, NNPC To Disclose Contract Details

ABUJA — The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has demanded full disclosure from the Federal Government regarding its pipeline surveillance spending, questioning a massive ₦2.7 trillion claim raised in a recent viral video.

The rights group called on the government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to publish the identities, contract values, and procurement records of all security beneficiaries to ensure transparency and clear public doubts.

The controversy stems from a viral video in which former Niger Delta militant leader Asari Dokubo alleged that the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, and businessman Osahon Okunbo receive ₦2.7 trillion annually for pipeline monitoring.

Dokubo made the assertions while defending Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, whose own surveillance contract has been under public scrutiny.

In a statement issued Sunday by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA noted that Dokubo’s ₦2.7 trillion claim requires independent verification. The association observed that previous reports placed Tompolo’s contract at approximately ₦48 billion annually, making the new allegation exponentially higher than previously reported figures.
HURIWA cautioned the public against accepting either figure as conclusive without access to official government documents and payment ledgers.

The palace of the Olu of Warri has reportedly rejected Dokubo’s allegations and challenged him to provide evidence. Concurrently, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited has petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) over what it termed false and inflammatory claims.

HURIWA stated that the institutional pushbacks reinforce the urgent need for the Federal Government to publish authoritative records and establish the facts.

The association stressed that the situation must not degenerate into ethnic rivalries or personal disputes among Niger Delta figures. Instead, it urged Nigerians to focus strictly on public expenditure, accountability, and the management of national oil resources.

While acknowledging that pipeline surveillance is crucial to protecting infrastructure, preventing crude theft, and safeguarding national revenue, HURIWA maintained that the importance of the task does not exempt its funding from public audit.

A central concern raised by the group is whether political considerations influence the allocation of these contracts.

HURIWA questioned whether certain beneficiaries face formal or informal obligations to provide cash, vehicles, or logistical support to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The association warned that public contracts must not become instruments of political patronage or channels for diverting public resources into partisan campaign activities.