Protest Erupts In Abuja Over Fuel Scarcity, As Protesters Demand Kyari's Sack

Protesters, numbering hundreds, converged at Unity Fountain, Abuja, on Monday to demand immediate sack of the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Mr. Mele Kyari, following the persistent hike in price and scarcity of fuel product in many parts of the country.

Apart from the unavailability of the product, which has resulted in the return of long queues across major cities, especially the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, some independent marketers have increased the pump prices of the product at filling stations, ranging from N670 to N1000 per litre.

Miffed by the pains, agony the hike and scarcity of the product have inflicted on many Nigerians, the protesters, brandishing posters with various inscriptions like; "We are tired of hearing stories about our refineries", "No direction, Kyari is just drifting with the wind", Probe Kyari for under remittance of oil proceeds", "We want accountability in the affairs of NNPCL", among many others, insisted on Kyari’s sack.

Conveners of the protest under the auspices of Coalition of Concerned Civil Society Organisations of Nigeria also decried the state of disrepair of the refineries.

Speaking to newsmen during the protest, one of the convener, Comrade Aminu Abbas, blamed Kyari, for the unfortunate development, alleging that importation of adulterated petroleum products and sabotage of local refineries under Kyari’s leadership, has made the situation to go from bad to worse without end in sight. 

"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," the coalition claimed.

"We ask: what has he done to alleviate this crisis? Where are the solutions? Why is our refineries, which should be the backbone of our fuel supply, still in disrepair? It is clear that Mr. Kyari has failed to take the necessary steps to resolve these issues. Instead, he seems intent on maintaining a status quo that benefits only a select few while the masses suffer," he said.

Demanding immediate removal of Mr. Mele Kyari from his position as Group Managing Director to restore sanity in the oil sector of the economy, the Coalition pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to act immediately.

"To President Tinubu and all those in positions of power, we say this: the time to act is now. Show us that the Renewed Hope Agenda is not just empty rhetoric. Show us that you stand with the people, not with 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. We will not be ignored. We will continue to raise our voices until justice is done and our demands are met. We are at a critical juncture in our nation’s history. President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda promises a new beginning for our country, a path to prosperity and security for all Nigerians. But how can we achieve this vision with individuals like Mr. Kyari at the helm of our most critical national assets?

"His actions—or lack thereof—are in direct contradiction to the President’s agenda. It is clear that Mr. Kyari cannot be an envoy of this new hope. Instead, he stands as an obstacle, a relic of the old ways that have brought us nothing but pain and despair," the protesters insisted.