ABUJA, Nigeria — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered more than N115 billion and $84 million in outstanding levies owed to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by 24 oil companies following an investigation triggered by queries contained in audit reports by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).
The disclosure was made before the Senate Public Accounts Committee during its ongoing examination of issues arising from the 2021–2023 NEITI Oil and Gas Industry Audit Reports.
Representing the EFCC, Francis Usani told the committee that the commission investigated 43 oil companies after NEITI raised concerns over outstanding payments. He said 24 companies operating in the Niger Delta were found to have outstanding liabilities relating to the statutory three per cent levy payable to the NDDC, while the remaining 19 companies were cleared.
According to the EFCC, the 24 companies were initially identified as owing about N76.88 billion and $81.08 million. Following the commission’s intervention, some of the affected firms began settling their obligations directly with the NDDC.
Usani disclosed that the companies had so far paid N6.71 billion and $16.99 million directly to the development commission. He added that the EFCC had transferred N73.37 billion and $67.07 million from its recoveries to the NDDC, while N3.51 billion and $14.01 million remained in the commission’s recovery account.
The EFCC explained that its investigation focused primarily on unpaid three per cent statutory levies identified in the NEITI audit reports. However, the commission noted that its investigation did not exclude the possibility of other outstanding statutory obligations and taxes owed to the Federal Government.
The development has renewed attention on the financial obligations of oil companies operating in the Niger Delta and the mechanisms available to ensure that statutory revenues are properly collected and transferred to government institutions.
The NDDC levy is an important component of the commission’s funding structure and is intended to support development projects and interventions across the Niger Delta, where oil exploration has generated significant economic, environmental and social challenges.
The Senate committee is also widening its scrutiny of companies mentioned in the NEITI reports. It has summoned the chief executives of several major oil firms to personally respond to outstanding queries rather than sending representatives.
The committee rejected a request by TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited for a representative to appear on behalf of its management and directed the company’s managing director to appear before the panel next week.
Managing directors of South Atlantic Petroleum Limited, Oando Oil Limited, Famfa Oil Limited and Green Energy International Limited were also given what the committee described as a final opportunity to appear personally before the lawmakers.
The Senate investigation is expected to continue as lawmakers examine the extent of outstanding financial obligations identified in the NEITI audits and determine whether additional recovery actions are required.
The latest EFCC recovery has also highlighted the importance of audit findings in identifying revenue leakages and prompting enforcement action within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
