On Monday, hundreds of young protesters gathered at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) headquarters, demanding the immediate resignation of Group Chief Executive Officer Mele Kyari. Led by civil society organizations, including the Two Million Man March Against Oil Scam Cabal, demonstrators voiced frustration over escalating fuel prices, endless queues, and economic hardships attributed to the NNPCL’s leadership.
The protesters, carrying placards that read “we demand the immediate resignation of Kyari,” accused him of overseeing a failed system that continues to subject Nigerians to worsening fuel scarcity and inflation. They also alleged importation of adulterated fuel, which has reportedly damaged vehicles and hindered businesses.
During the rally, spokesperson Abdullahi Bilal expressed the group’s frustration with Nigeria’s dependency on costly fuel imports, calling for a restructuring of the nation’s oil sector. He further questioned how substandard fuel continues to enter the country despite regulatory quality controls.
Other leaders of the protest, including Barrister Napoleon Otache and Olayemi Isaac of Citizens and Economic Freedom Rights Activists, urged President Bola Tinubu to step in, demanding greater accountability and a transparent overhaul of Nigeria’s fuel management practices.
NNPCL spokesperson Femi Soneye responded by refuting the protesters’ claims, stating that the GCEO has ensured fuel availability at subsidized rates despite high landing costs. He also urged critics to provide proof of alleged fuel adulteration, dismissing the protest as uninformed and suggesting that the group’s motives were self-serving.
The protest reflects a broader public discontent with Nigeria’s ongoing fuel challenges, as citizens seek both immediate relief and lasting reform in the oil sector.
