Title, Subtitle

The Phantom Barrel
A Saga of Oil, Power, and the Price of Silence

Blurb / Description

How do you account for oil that exists only on paper—but empties a nation’s future?

In The Phantom Barrel, acclaimed Nigerian author Chiedu Ndubisi delivers a sweeping political saga that traces the dark history of Nigeria’s oil subsidy regime—from its murky origins in the 1970s to the violent protests of 2023.

Through the eyes of Dr. Musa Dikko, a reform-minded technocrat; Chief Emeka Iwu, a billionaire smuggler-politician; Inspector Remi Adewale, an incorruptible investigator; and Amaka Nwosu, a fearless journalist, we witness how phantom barrels—oil never lifted, fuel never delivered—drain billions from public coffers and ignite waves of silence, scandal, and blood.

Spanning Lagos, Port Harcourt, Geneva, and the corridors of power, The Phantom Barrel is a masterfully layered narrative of betrayal, resistance, and reckoning. This is the story of a country held hostage by its own black gold—and the few who dare to confront it.

Author

Chiedu Ndubisi is a Nigerian author, economist, and policy analyst whose fiction explores the intersections of corruption, governance, and resistance. Known for his searing political thrillers and deeply human characters, Ndubisi writes with both moral clarity and emotional depth. The Phantom Barrel is his most ambitious work to date—a powerful indictment of a system that thrives on shadows.

He is the Managing Director/CEO of Prohouse and Systems Limited and founder of GritRoot Media Concept. A recognized expert in infrastructure finance and PPP reform, he holds degrees in Economics (B.Sc.), Business Administration (MBA), and Public Policy Analysis (Ph.D.). With over 40 years of post-graduation experience, including his tenure as Director at Nigeria’s Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Chiedu brings deep insight into governance, reform, and storytelling. 

Formats Available

• eBook (EPUB, PDF)

• Paperback

• Hardcover (Coming Soon)

Purchase Links

• Amazon (Kindle / Paperback): [Coming Soon]

• Lulu (eBook / Paperback): [Coming Soon]

• Kobo (eBook): [Coming Soon]

• StreetLib Global Store: [Coming Soon]

• Apple Books: [Coming Soon]

• Google Play Books: [Coming Soon]

ISBNs

• Paperback ISBN: (To be updated)

• eBook ISBN: (To be updated)

• Hardcover ISBN: (To be assigned)

Reviews / Endorsements

“A masterclass in political storytelling. Ndubisi exposes the ghost economy behind Nigeria’s oil wealth with chilling precision.”
— Obiora Nwachuku, Editor-in-Chief, The Sovereign Ledger*

“This isn’t just a novel. It’s a national audit disguised as fiction.”
— *Hadiza Sule, Author of Democracy’s Price

“A brilliantly constructed thriller that moves between boardrooms, bunkering sites, and betrayal with the grace of a whistleblower's last breath.”
— The African Review of Literature and Politics