The Nigerian civil society organisations staged a protest at the National Assembly on Friday, demanding that the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, be fired immediately for allegedly undermining local refinery revitalisation initiatives.
Organized by the Nigerian Coalition of Civil Society Organization, demonstrators demanded a thorough examination of NNPCL’s practices, alleging that the firm favors profit-centric, import-reliant approaches that threaten Nigeria’s energy independence.
The spokesperson for the group, Segun Adebayo, contended that NNPCL’s choice of imported Premium Motor Spirit makes Nigeria reliant on international markets, exhausting billions in foreign currency and putting economic pressure on the country.
Adebayo condemned NNPCL’s strategy, stating, “Even with Nigeria’s ability to process fuel domestically, entrenched interests in NNPCL persist in promoting fuel imports. This reliance makes our economy vulnerable to fluctuations in the global oil market, affecting the livelihoods of Nigerians while allowing a privileged few to gain profit.”
The coalition additionally emphasized how local industrialists, including Aliko Dangote, are promoting Nigeria’s self-sufficiency by investing in local refineries.
Nonetheless, they asserted that NNPCL’s policies obstruct these initiatives, restricting job opportunities and maintaining reliance on imported fuel.
National Coordinator Benjamin James recommended a change in the policy for crude oil sales, calling on the government to require that Nigerian crude be sold to domestic refineries in naira instead of dollars.
“This policy aims to minimize foreign exchange losses, safeguard the naira, and bolster Nigeria’s economy by supporting local industries,” James stated.
The coalition warned of intensifying protests in all 36 states if their requests are not addressed, prompting President Bola Tinubu to initiate an investigation into NNPCL’s activities and hold its leaders responsible for policies purportedly harmful to Nigeria’s economic autonomy and energy objectives.
