Niger’s military government has reportedly issued a 45-day ultimatum to the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and its joint-venture partners to repatriate an estimated $5.2 billion in outstanding crude oil export revenues into the country’s domestic banking system.
The directive follows a state monitoring committee audit that allegedly found that a significant portion of oil export earnings generated since crude shipments began through the Niger-Benin pipeline in April 2024 had been retained in offshore accounts in Paris and Hong Kong.
According to the report, Niger has recovered only 6% of the revenue domestically, raising concerns about the impact on local banks, public finances and the country’s economic development.
Authorities have also accused Chinese oil operators of resisting independent labour audits and failing to provide adequate verification of local employment quotas. The government has warned that failure to comply with its demands by late November 2026 could result in legal action and the cancellation of existing contracts.
The reported ultimatum highlights Niger’s efforts to strengthen resource sovereignty, oil revenue transparency and financial accountability in its petroleum sector. However, the allegations and the status of the directive should be independently verified.
Source: newsthemegh.com