NNPCL Reacts As Protesters Demand Kyari’s Resignation Over Petrol Price

Nigerian youths, led by civil society organizations (CSOs), staged a protest outside the headquarters of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) on Monday, calling for the immediate resignation of the company’s Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Mele Kyari.

The demonstrators, citing rising fuel prices, long queues at petrol stations, and widespread economic hardship, accused Kyari of failing to provide competent leadership.

The protest, organized by prominent CSO figures Abdullahi Bilal of the Two Million Man March Against Oil Scam Cabal, Barrister Napoleon Otache, and Olayemi Isaac from the Citizens and Economic Freedom Rights Activists in Nigeria, was marked by placards bearing slogans such as “Resign Now, Kyari!” and “NNPCL, Stop Mismanaging the Oil Sector.”

READ ALSO: Tinubu Nominates New Resident Commissioner For Ondo State, Another National Officer For North-West

The protesters blamed Kyari’s leadership for exacerbating the economic woes faced by Nigerians, particularly through the continued hike in fuel prices.

They also voiced concerns over what they called the mismanagement of the nation’s oil sector, accusing the NNPCL of failing to ensure affordable and accessible fuel for the public.

In response, Femi Soneye, NNPCL’s spokesperson, defended Kyari’s tenure, highlighting that the GCEO had played a crucial role in stabilizing fuel prices despite global fluctuations in the oil market.

Soneye stressed that the protesters lacked an understanding of the complexities within the oil sector, particularly when it comes to pricing.

“Unfortunately, they lack understanding of the sector. If they were informed, they would know that the GCEO is not responsible for the fuel price increase.

In fact, Mele Kyari ensured Nigerians had access to fuel at ₦620 per litre for over a year, despite the landing cost exceeding ₦1,100,” Soneye said in a statement.

Soneye also refuted allegations that NNPCL was importing adulterated fuel, urging the protesters to provide any evidence to support their claims.

“NNPCL Ltd does not import adulterated fuel. If anyone has evidence to the contrary, they should bring forward samples,” he added.

He further dismissed the protesters as being motivated by “selfish interests” and reiterated NNPCL’s commitment to implementing President Bola Tinubu’s roadmap for energy security in the country.

The protest comes amidst growing public frustration over the deregulation of the oil sector, with many Nigerians voicing concerns that the price of petrol is becoming increasingly unaffordable.

While the NNPCL insists that Kyari has played a stabilizing role in a volatile market, critics argue that the oil sector remains plagued by inefficiencies and mismanagement, further intensifying the economic strain on ordinary citizens.