News

Fuel Crisis: Protesters Storm NNPCL HQ, Demand Mele Kyari’s Immediate Resignation

Published

3 weeks ago

Nov 5, 2024.

Scores of protesters gathered at the headquarters of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) on Monday, demanding the resignation of Group Chief Executive Officer Mele Kyari.

Led by Civil Society Organizations, the demonstrators criticized Kyari’s leadership, citing escalating fuel prices, persistent shortages, and economic hardship as reasons for his removal.

EDITOR’S PICKS

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the protest, organized by Abdullahi Bilal of the Two Million Man March Against Oil Scam Cabal, Barrister Napoleon Otache, and Olayemi Isaac from Citizens and Economic Freedom Rights Activists in Nigeria, highlighted concerns over inflation driven by fuel costs and fuel scarcity, which they argued have deepened poverty across Nigeria.

Carrying signs reading “We demand the immediate resignation of Kyari,” the group voiced their frustration over unfulfilled promises of the Dangote refinery, noting the ongoing reliance on costly fuel imports despite billions invested in Nigeria’s refining sector.

The protesters also condemned the importation of adulterated fuel, which they allege has damaged vehicles and businesses.

They demanded accountability, questioning how substandard fuel repeatedly enters the country despite supposed quality control measures. In a statement to the press, Bilal called for comprehensive reform in Nigeria’s oil sector, saying, “The Two Million Man March stands as a united voice for every citizen betrayed by a system that enriches a few at the expense of the many.”

Otache and Isaac reiterated these calls, describing the current situation as “economic sabotage.”

They demanded transparency from all stakeholders involved in fuel imports, as well as a full investigation into substandard fuel supplies. “We demand an immediate end to fuel queues and the elimination of fraudulent subsidy practices that have enriched only a select few,” they declared.

NNPCL spokesperson Femi Soneye responded, dismissing the protesters’ claims as misguided and insisting that Kyari had kept fuel prices at N620 per litre despite rising costs.

He challenged the group to provide proof of their claims regarding adulterated fuel, affirming that NNPCL remains committed to President Tinubu’s energy roadmap.

“We won’t be distracted by inconsequential groups,” Soneye asserted, emphasizing NNPCL’s focus on securing Nigeria’s energy future.