Demonstrators gathered at the NNPCL headquarters demanding the resignation of Group CEO Mele Kyari amid growing concerns. Read more about the protests and the underlying issues fueling public discontent.
Dozens of young people gathered at the headquarters of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited on Monday, calling for the immediate resignation of Mele Kyari, the company’s Group Chief Executive Officer.
The protesters, spearheaded by various Civil Society Organizations, criticized Kyari’s leadership as ineffective, pointing to soaring fuel prices, persistent fuel shortages, and economic hardship in Nigeria.
The protesters, holding placards with various messages like “we demand the immediate resignation of Kyari,” stated that the leadership of the NNPCL chief has been unsuccessful.
The discontented youths, spearheaded by Abdullahi Bilal from the Two Million Man March Against Oil Scam Cabal, alongside Barrister Napoleon Otache and Olayemi Isaac of Citizens and Economic Freedom Rights Activists in Nigeria, called for urgent measures to address what they termed a failure in leadership regarding the management of the country’s oil sector.
At the heart of the protests were complaints about soaring fuel prices and endless lines, which they claimed have led to increased inflation and pushed millions of Nigerians into poverty.
They also condemned the importation of adulterated fuel, describing it as a corrupt practice that harms citizens by damaging vehicles and businesses.
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They called for an immediate stop to these imports and responsibility from those involved, questioning how low-quality fuel keeps entering the country despite assurances of quality control.
Furthermore, the group expressed dissatisfaction with the unfulfilled promise of the Dangote refinery to address Nigeria’s fuel crisis. They voiced frustration over the billions of dollars invested in developing and refurbishing refineries without yielding expected results.
They contended that despite these investments, fuel shortages continue, causing Nigeria to depend on expensive imports even though it is an oil-producing nation.
They called on President Bola Tinubu to step in by revamping the leadership within the oil sector, ensuring greater accountability, and prioritizing the needs of citizens. The protesters pledged to keep mobilizing until their demands for reform and transparency are addressed.
During the mass demonstration, Abdullahi Bilal told journalists that “The Two Million Man March represents a unified voice for all citizens who have been let down by a system that benefits a few while disadvantaging many.”
We urge the current leadership of the country’s oil sector to resign immediately. Their management has let Nigerians down.
