Abuja Protesters Demand Removal of NNPCL Chief Over Fuel Scarcity Crisis

A large group of demonstrators in Abuja, has called for the immediate dismissal of Mele Kyari, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), due to the ongoing fuel scarcity crisis in Nigeria.

The Monday’s protest was sparked by the NNPCL’s recent admission that its significant debt to suppliers is jeopardizing the country’s fuel supply stability.

The corporation has acknowledged that its financial difficulties are placing immense pressure on its operations and threatening the sustainability of fuel supplies. This confession has fueled public frustration, highlighting the severe impact of the debt crisis on the nation’s fuel availability.

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana also voiced his concerns about the situation. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Falana noted that the rising cost of living, arbitrary increases in petrol prices, and the resulting scarcity are contributing to fewer vehicles on Nigerian roads. He emphasized that it is time to expose the “monumental fraud” surrounding fuel importation in Nigeria.

The demonstrators, who chanted solidarity songs and carried banners with messages such as “We are tired of fuel scarcity and stories on why refineries are not working,” “No direction under Kyari,” and “We want accountability in the affairs of NNPCL,” criticized Kyari’s tenure. They argued that his leadership has been marked by a dismal performance that raises more questions than answers.

At Unity Fountain, the Convener of the Coalition of Concerned Civil Society Organizations, Aminu Abbas, addressed the crowd and expressed frustration over the country’s continued fuel scarcity despite its oil resources. Abbas urged President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and other officials to act decisively, stating, “To President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and all those in positions of power, we say the time to act is now. Show us that you stand with the people, not those who profit from our misery.”

Abbas further criticized Kyari’s leadership, describing the fuel scarcity as a deliberate continuation of suffering and questioning what has been done to alleviate the crisis. He added, “The fuel scarcity we endure today is not just a mere inconvenience; it is a calculated perpetuation of suffering. Under Mr. Kyari’s leadership, the situation has gone from bad to worse, with no end in sight.”

The protesters demanded that Kyari be removed from his position and that the NNPCL be reformed to better serve the interests of Nigerians. They lamented the daily struggles of enduring endless queues, inflated prices, and uncertainty over fuel availability, attributing these issues to the “gross incompetence and mismanagement” under Kyari’s leadership.