Scores of demonstrators took to the streets of Abuja on Monday, demanding the immediate dismissal of Mele Kyari, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL). The protests, organized by the Coalition of Concerned Civil Society Organizations, come in response to the persistent fuel scarcity that continues to plague the nation.
Aminu Abbas, the convener of the coalition, addressed the media during the protest, emphasizing the urgent need for accountability within NNPCL. The protesters, carrying banners with messages such as “We are tired of fuel scarcity” and “No direction under Kyari,” expressed frustration over what they described as a lackluster performance by the NNPCL leadership.
The protest follows NNPCL’s recent admission that its considerable debt to suppliers is jeopardizing the sustainable supply of fuel across the country. The corporation revealed that this financial burden is exerting significant pressure on its operations, further threatening the stability of the nation’s fuel supply chain.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana also voiced concerns over the worsening situation, citing the rising cost of living and the arbitrary increase in petrol prices as key factors contributing to the decline in the number of vehicles on Nigerian roads. Falana, who appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today, called for an urgent investigation into what he described as the “monumental fraud” affecting Nigeria’s fuel importation system.
As the protests gain momentum, there are increasing calls for a comprehensive review of NNPCL’s operations, with a focus on ensuring transparency and efficiency in the nation’s fuel supply management.
