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), over the ongoing fuel scarcity affecting the country.
The protest follows an admission by the NNPCL that its considerable debt to suppliers is jeopardizing the sustainability of the fuel supply. The corporation noted that this financial burden is putting significant pressure on its operations and threatening the stability of fuel availability.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana also expressed concerns about the rising cost of living, the arbitrary increase in the pump price of petrol, and the resulting fuel scarcity, which has led to fewer vehicles on Nigerian roads. Speaking on Channels Television’s *Politics Today* on Sunday, Falana called for an urgent investigation into the “monumental fraud” affecting fuel importation in Nigeria.
The demonstrators, chanting solidarity songs and carrying banners with messages like “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 leadership as lacking direction and accountability.
Speaking to journalists at Unity Fountain after the rally, Aminu Abbas, the Convener of the Coalition of Concerned Civil Society Organizations, questioned why a country as rich in oil resources as Nigeria should continue to suffer from severe petrol shortages.
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.”
