***US-based Nigerian Joseph Patrick warns Tinubu government of international embarrassment as diaspora protesters prepare to take action
ABUJA, NIGERIA — Pressure is mounting on the Federal Government over the controversy surrounding the 2025 oil licensing round, as Nigerians in the diaspora join the Nigeria Progressive Movement in demanding the removal of the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan.
Mr. Joseph Patrick, a Nigerian resident in the United States, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to take immediate action over questions surrounding the award of oil blocks to newly incorporated companies, warning that failure to address the concerns could expose Nigeria to international embarrassment.
Patrick also disclosed that Nigerians in the diaspora are preparing to stage protests in the coming days over the controversy, as pressure builds for an independent investigation into the licensing process.
His intervention adds a diaspora dimension to the campaign led by the Nigeria Progressive Movement, which has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the oil block awards.
The movement, led by its President, Mr. James Collins, and Secretary, Mr. Benjamin Jacob, has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the anti-corruption agencies, demanding an investigation and warning that it may organise a peaceful protest in Abuja if the agencies fail to take meaningful action.
Nigerians in Diaspora Prepare to Protest
Patrick said Nigerians living abroad would not remain silent over questions concerning the management of the country’s strategic petroleum resources.
According to him, the planned diaspora protests in the coming days are intended to draw attention to the controversy and demand transparency, accountability and a credible investigation.
He called on the Federal Government to address the concerns before they escalate into a wider international controversy, warning that unresolved allegations involving the country’s petroleum regulatory institutions could damage Nigeria’s reputation.
Patrick urged the government to ensure that the relevant authorities examine the licensing records, verify the identities and qualifications of successful bidders, and establish whether any rules were breached.
He also called for action against any individual found responsible for wrongdoing following an independent investigation.
Investigation Raises Questions About Oil Block Awards
The controversy follows an investigation published by TrackNews Online, which raised questions about the corporate identities, incorporation dates and ownership structures of some companies announced as successful bidders in the 2025 oil licensing round.
The investigation identified eight companies reportedly incorporated between approximately four and twenty-six months before the announcement of the awards on July 21, 2026.
They include BVOF Energy Company Limited, Gupsco Energy Limited, Volonte Oil and Gas Limited, Saratoga Oil and Gas Limited, CFP Pipelines and Flowlines Company Limited, Southborne Oil and Gas Limited, Up Energies Limited and Nuway Oaklane Energy Limited.
The report questioned how the companies demonstrated the technical expertise, financial capacity and operational preparedness required to participate successfully in an upstream petroleum licensing exercise.
It also identified five companies whose corporate identities could not be independently verified under their exact published names through the corporate search platforms examined.
The five companies were Attabanson Global Company Limited, Concept-Reel Petroleum Services Limited, Blackrock Holdings Limited, Nikstallis and Eyre Energy Limited.
The investigation did not establish that the companies were fictitious or that their oil block awards were unlawful. However, the reported discrepancies have prompted calls for NUPRC to provide documentation clarifying their legal identities and eligibility.
EFCC, ICPC Face 14-Day Ultimatum
The Nigeria Progressive Movement has called on the EFCC and ICPC to investigate the licensing process and establish whether there is evidence of favouritism, improper influence or financial inducements.
The movement has demanded scrutiny of the successful bidders’ corporate registration documents, beneficial ownership declarations, technical qualifications and financial capacity.
It has warned that failure by the agencies to take meaningful investigative steps within 14 days of its formal demand could lead to a peaceful protest in Abuja.
The group says its campaign is intended to ensure that the allocation of Nigeria’s petroleum resources complies with the law and that any proven violations attract appropriate consequences.
Tinubu Government Urged to Act
Patrick called on President Tinubu’s administration to respond to the concerns and demonstrate its commitment to transparency in the management of Nigeria’s petroleum resources.
The final awards were announced under Eyesan’s leadership, although the licensing exercise itself was conducted during the tenure of former NUPRC chief executive Gbenga Komolafe.
The respective roles of officials involved in the evaluation, approval and announcement of the successful bidders would need to be established through an independent review.
The calls for Eyesan’s removal remain the position of the Nigeria Progressive Movement and its supporters. The reported discrepancies have not, by themselves, established personal wrongdoing by the NUPRC chief executive.
International Attention Looms
Patrick’s warning comes amid increasing demands for greater transparency in the petroleum sector, with the planned diaspora protests expected to bring additional attention to the questions surrounding the licensing round.
He urged the Federal Government and the anti-corruption agencies to take the concerns seriously, warning that failure to provide credible answers could expose Nigeria to international embarrassment.
The Nigeria Progressive Movement has reaffirmed its demand for an investigation and said it will continue pressing for accountability.
As the calls for action grow, the key issues remain whether all successful bidders satisfied the applicable licensing requirements, whether their ownership structures were properly disclosed, and whether any evidence supports allegations of irregularities.
NUPRC and the affected companies should be given an opportunity to respond to the allegations.
TrackNews Online will continue to follow developments, including any formal announcement concerning the proposed protests by Nigerians in the diaspora.
