ADC Demands Full Audit of Refineries, Alleges $18bn Waste and Cover-Up by Successive Governments

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has demanded a comprehensive audit of Nigeria’s refineries, citing the alleged mismanagement of nearly $18 billion spent over the years by successive governments on the rehabilitation of the country’s three major refineries.

In a statement released by its National Publicity Secretary and Coalition Spokesperson, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party expressed skepticism over the Tinubu administration’s recent decision to privatize the refineries. The ADC pointed out the contradiction between government claims of partial refinery operations earlier this year and the sudden announcement of their sale, raising concerns about transparency and policy inconsistency.

“The refineries were said to be functional just months ago,” the statement read. “Now, after spending billions—including an additional $2.8 billion under the current administration—they are declared non-functional and slated for sale. This contradiction, coupled with historical mismanagement under the guise of turnaround maintenance, suggests ongoing abuse of public funds and a deliberate undervaluation of national assets for private gain.”

The party described the situation as symptomatic of systemic corruption, warning that selling the refineries without a full technical, financial, and structural audit would amount to legitimizing fraud. It called for a forensic review of all funds allocated to refinery repairs from 2010 to date, and urged that the findings be made public through a legislative hearing involving civil society, energy experts, and anti-corruption agencies.

“The government must not proceed with any sale until there is full public accountability,” the ADC insisted. “Privatizing assets without transparency or scrutiny is not reform—it is a cover-up. What is being sold, and why now? The Nigerian people deserve answers.”