ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- A large number of Nigerian youths gathered outside the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) headquarters on Monday, calling for the immediate resignation of the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari.
The demonstrators, led by various Civil Society Organizations, criticized Kyari’s leadership, highlighting issues such as soaring fuel prices, persistent fuel shortages, and worsening economic hardship across Nigeria.
Carrying placards with messages like “We demand the immediate resignation of Kyari,” the protesters claimed that NNPCL’s leadership under Kyari has failed to effectively manage the country’s energy sector.
Key organizers, including Abdullahi Bilal of the “Two Million Man March Against Oil Scam Cabal” and Barristers Napoleon Otache and Olayemi Isaac from Citizens and Economic Freedom Rights Activists, demanded urgent reforms to address what they see as a crisis of governance.
Their grievances focused on the relentless rise in fuel prices and long-standing fuel queues, which they argued are driving inflation and pushing millions of Nigerians into poverty.
The protesters also condemned the importation of adulterated fuel, labeling it a corrupt practice that harms citizens by damaging vehicles and disrupting businesses.
The protesters called for an immediate end to the importation of substandard fuel and demanded accountability from those responsible, questioning why poor-quality fuel continues to enter Nigeria despite assurances of quality control.
They also voiced disappointment over the long-standing promise that the Dangote refinery would address Nigeria’s fuel crisis, criticizing the billions spent on new refinery projects and upgrades to existing facilities.
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Despite these investments, they noted, fuel shortages persist, leaving Nigeria, an oil-producing nation, dependent on costly imports.
Appealing to President Bola Tinubu, the group urged a leadership overhaul in the oil sector, greater accountability, and a commitment to prioritizing citizens’ needs.
They pledged to keep mobilizing until their calls for reform and transparency are addressed.
Speaking to journalists during the mass demonstration, Abdullahi Bilal said, “The Two Million Man March stands as a united voice for every citizen who has been betrayed by a system that continues to enrich a few at the expense of many.
“Today, we call for the immediate resignation of the current leadership in the country’s oil sector. Their management has failed Nigerians.
“Under their watch, we have seen fuel prices skyrocket without consultation or consideration of the devastating impact on the people. We have endured fuel scarcity while substandard, adulterated fuel is imported, causing further hardship.
“We demand the complete removal of the fraudulent fuel subsidy regime that has only served to enrich a select few. Full deregulation is necessary to introduce transparency, competition, and fairness to our oil sector.”
On their part, Otache and Isaac, insisted, “This act of economic sabotage has led to endless fuel queues, skyrocketing fuel prices, and unprecedented disruptions in the daily lives of Nigerians.
“We demand an immediate end to fuel queues, transparency, and accountability from all involved parties. We want to know how substandard fuel continues to enter the country despite assurances of quality control.”
On July 7, 2019, former President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Mele Kyari as the 19th Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. However, following the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act, Kyari’s current role is no longer tied to the company’s former employment structure.
In response to the protests, NNPCL spokesperson Femi Soneye argued that the demonstrators lack a full understanding of the sector. Soneye stated that, contrary to their complaints, the Group Chief Executive Officer had worked to ensure Nigerians could access fuel at N620 per liter for over a year, despite a landing cost exceeding N1,100.
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Responding via a chat, Soneye said, “Unfortunately, they lack understanding of the sector. If they were informed, they would know that the GCEO is not responsible for the fuel price increase; in fact, he ensured Nigerians had access to fuel at N620 per litre for over a year, even when the landing cost was above N1,100.”
He also called on the group to present evidence to support their claim that the national oil company is currently importing adulterated fuel.
“NNPC Ltd does not import adulterated fuel. If anyone has evidence to the contrary, they should bring forward samples of any such fuel imported by NNPC.
“I won’t waste time engaging with individuals motivated by selfish interests. We have more pressing projects to accomplish to ensure energy security for our nation, rather than focusing on inconsequential groups. We are committed to implementing President Bola Tinubu’s roadmap for the sector, and no group will deter or distract us from achieving this goal,” Soneye added.