Nuhu Ribadu Returns to Clean Nigeria’s Oil House

The former anti-corruption czar Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is back in the spotlight. This time, he’s leading Nigeria’s newly established Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force, set up by the Minister of Petroleum Resources.

Ribadu, once known for shaking up Nigeria’s corrupt elite as head of the EFCC, has been given a critical mandate: to plug the financial holes in Nigeria’s oil sector. He is to lead a team of experts to trace, verify, and recover all petroleum revenues owed to the Federal Government—whether from taxes, royalties, or other income.

A Man with a Mandate

In 2011, Ribadu was the presidential candidate for the Action Congress of Nigeria. Known for his fearless stance on corruption, his appointment signals a bold attempt to bring transparency to Nigeria’s most lucrative—but notoriously opaque—industry.

His job?

• Uncover and recover oil money.

• Enforce payment agreements.

• Track all debts owed by oil operators.

• Build an automated system to monitor the sector in real time.

This platform is expected to allow government agencies to track income and production, verify exports, and monitor payments from oil companies—all online.

A Task Force of Heavyweights

The newly formed task force includes a blend of public servants, lawyers, finance professionals, and technocrats. Appointed by Goni Sheikh, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, the 17-member panel is stacked with names familiar to Nigerians:

• Mr. Steve Oronsaye (Deputy Chair) – Former Head of Civil Service

• Mallam Abba Kyari – Policy veteran

• Ms. Benedicta Molokwu

• Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) – Civil rights lawyer

• Mr. Supo Sasore (SAN)

• Mr. Tony Idigbe (SAN)

• Mr. Anthony George-Ikoli (SAN)

• Dr. Omolara Akanji – Economist

• Mr. Ituah Ighodalo – Pastor and consultant

• Mr. Bon Otti, Prof. Olusegun Okunnu, Mallam Samaila Zubairu, Mr. Ignatius Adegunle, and Mr. Gerald Ilukwe

Government agencies also represented include:

• Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS)

• Ministry of Justice

• Office of the Accountant-General

• Department of Petroleum Resources

• NNPC

Why Now?

This move follows public outrage over fuel subsidy scandals. On January 1, 2012, the Nigerian government removed petroleum subsidies without warning, doubling fuel prices overnight. The backlash was swift.

Protests rocked major cities. Diaspora Nigerians joined in solidarity. Civil society leaders, labour unions, and youth groups demanded accountability.

Under pressure, the government partially reversed the price hike and promised reform.

Part of that reform includes probing the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and the NNPC—both accused of financial misconduct in a scandal that reached the Minister of Petroleum herself, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Is This Just Smoke and Mirrors?

President Goodluck Jonathan had earlier appointed Dr. Christopher Kolade, a respected elder statesman and former UK ambassador, to head the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).

But insiders say the committee’s work stalled because the 2012 budget didn’t account for subsidy reinvestment—raising suspicions. Critics argue this may all be a grand deception to justify the subsidy removal and pacify angry citizens.

What’s Next for Nigeria?

Ribadu’s appointment is a gamble—and a test. Can he repeat his EFCC-era success? Can this task force recover billions allegedly lost to corrupt oil deals?

Or will it join the long list of Nigeria’s unfinished reforms?

One thing is clear: Nigerians are watching.

And the world is listening.

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