Scores of youths, led by Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), stormed the headquarters of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) in Abuja on Monday, calling for the immediate resignation of Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the company.
The demonstrators, who carried placards with messages like “We demand the immediate resignation of Kyari,” voiced their dissatisfaction with the state of Nigeria’s oil sector, particularly under Kyari’s leadership.
They cited escalating fuel prices, persistent fuel queues, and the growing economic hardship faced by millions of Nigerians.
Prominent among the protesters were Abdullahi Bilal from the Two Million Man March Against Oil Scam Cabal, Barrister Napoleon Otache, and Olayemi Isaac of Citizens and Economic Freedom Rights Activists in Nigeria.
The group accused Kyari’s leadership of failing to address the critical issues facing the country’s oil sector.
“The current leadership has failed Nigerians. We’ve seen fuel prices soar without consultation, and fuel scarcity persists despite repeated promises of reform,” Bilal said during the protest.
“Under Kyari’s watch, substandard fuel is still being imported, causing harm to citizens and their businesses. It’s time for him to step down,” he added.
The protesters also demanded an immediate halt to the importation of adulterated fuel, which they claimed was damaging vehicles and worsening Nigeria’s economic woes.
They expressed outrage over the continued reliance on fuel imports despite Nigeria being an oil-producing nation, accusing the government of mismanagement and corruption in the sector.
Additionally, they voiced frustration over the unfulfilled promises of the Dangote refinery, which was expected to alleviate the country’s fuel crisis.
Despite billions of dollars being invested in refinery development and the refurbishment of existing facilities, the protesters argued, fuel shortages and reliance on expensive imports persist.
The group also called on President Bola Tinubu to take urgent action by overhauling the leadership in the oil sector, enforcing transparency, and prioritizing the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.
“We demand an immediate end to fuel queues, full deregulation, and greater accountability in the oil sector,” Otache and Isaac said. “We want to know how substandard fuel continues to enter the country despite assurances of quality control.”
Mele Kyari, appointed as the GCEO of NNPC (now NNPCL) in July 2019, has faced mounting criticism over the persistent fuel crisis. Under his tenure, Nigeria has seen fluctuating fuel prices, supply shortages, and an increase in fuel imports despite the nation’s oil reserves.
In response to the protests, NNPCL spokesperson Femi Soneye dismissed the protesters’ claims as ill-informed. He defended Kyari’s leadership, emphasizing that the GCEO had ensured Nigerians had access to fuel at N620 per litre for over a year, despite the landing cost surpassing N1,100.
Soneye further denied the allegations of adulterated fuel imports, stating, “NNPCL does not import adulterated fuel. If anyone has evidence to the contrary, they should bring forward samples.”
He added that the company was focused on fulfilling President Tinubu’s roadmap for the oil sector and would not be distracted by “groups motivated by selfish interests.”
While the protest on Monday highlighted the simmering frustration among Nigerians over the ongoing fuel crisis, it remains to be seen whether the government will take steps to address the calls for reform and greater accountability in the oil sector.
