Protesters flooded the streets of Abuja on Monday, demanding the swift removal of Mele Kyari, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, in response to the persistent fuel shortages affecting the country.
The demonstration follows the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited’s admission that the sustainable fuel supply is being jeopardized by its large debt to suppliers.
The company noted that among other things, the financial strain is seriously affecting its operations and endangering the stability of fuel supplies.
Femi Falana, a human rights attorney, expressed concern that fewer cars were on Nigerian roads due to factors such as the country’s growing cost of living, an arbitrary increase in the price of gas at the pump, and the resulting scarcity.
When Falana made this revelation during his appearance as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Sunday, he also declared that it was past time to expose the “monumental fraud” that plagues Nigeria’s fuel importation.
The protesters bemoaned that Kyari’s tenure was characterized by a dismal scorecard that raises more questions than answers as they chanted solidarity songs and held up several banners that said things like, “We want accountability in the affairs of NNPCL,” “No direction under Kyari,” and “We are tired of fuel scarcity and stories on why refineries are not working.”
Addressing newsmen at Unity Fountain after the rally in Abuja, Convener of the Coalition of Concerned Civil Society Organizations, Aminu Abbas wondered why a nation blessed with oil like Nigeria should continue to suffer acute petrol scarcity.
He said, “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. Mr Kyari must be shown the way out, and the NNPCL must be reformed to serve the interests of all Nigerians. We will not be silenced.
“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. What has he done to alleviate this crisis? It is clear he seems intent on maintaining a status quo that benefits only a select few while the masses suffer.
“Why do we, the people, have to endure endless queues, inflated prices, and the daily uncertainty of whether we can fuel our vehicles or power our homes? The answer lies in the gross incompetence and mismanagement that have become the hallmarks of Mr. Kyari’s leadership.”
