Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for its alleged failure to disclose information regarding Nigeria’s daily oil production, exportation, and the total revenues generated since the removal of the subsidy on petrol in May 2023.
The lawsuit, with the number FHC/ABJ/CS/1719/2023, was filed on Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja. SERAP is seeking “an order of mandamus to direct and compel the NNPC to disclose details of barrels of oil Nigeria produces and exports daily and the total amounts of revenues generated since the removal of subsidy on petrol.”
Additionally, SERAP is requesting “an order of mandamus to compel the NNPC to disclose how much of the revenues generated from the production and exportation of oil have been remitted to the public treasury since the removal of subsidy on petrol.” The group is also asking for “an order of mandamus to direct and compel the NNPC to disclose details of payment of 11 Trillion Naira made as subsidy payments from 1999 to May 2023, including a detailed breakdown of the payments made.”
SERAP argues that there is a legitimate public interest in disclosing the information sought, and the NNPC has a legal responsibility to provide details about Nigeria’s oil production, exportation, and revenues generated and remitted. The group emphasizes that Nigerians have the right to know this information, and compelling the NNPC to disclose these details would promote transparency and accountability in the oil sector.
SERAP contends that the NNPC’s failure to disclose the requested information constitutes a grave violation of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the Freedom of Information Act, and the country’s obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.