SERAP Urges Buhari to Investigate Alleged Missing 149m Barrels of Crude Oil in 2019 or Face Legal Action

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari to establish a presidential panel to investigate allegations that more than 149 million barrels of crude oil have gone missing, as documented in 2019 audited reports by the Auditor General of the Federation and the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI). 

SERAP also urged Buhari to ensure the prosecution of anyone suspected to be responsible for the theft of the country's oil wealth and the recovery of any proceeds of crime. 

The Auditor General's report showed that over 107 million barrels of crude oil were lifted domestically without any documentation or tracing. 

NEITI also reported 42.25 million barrels of crude oil missing in 2019. 

The organization believes that the investigation should be carried out before the end of Buhari's term in office, and any perpetrators should be named and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others. 

SERAP warned that it would take legal action to compel the government to comply with its request if it did not receive a response within seven days of sending the letter.