The Coalition for Economic Liberation and Transformation (CELT) has called for a thorough investigation into a suspected N3 trillion fuel importation fraud involving the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its business partners. The coalition raised the alarm during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday.
CELT’s Executive Director, Henry Owolabi, revealed that between October 1 and November 11, Nigeria imported 1.5 million metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 414,018 metric tonnes of diesel, and 13,500 metric tonnes of aviation fuel. CELT criticized NNPCL’s Group CEO, Mele Kolo Kyari, for focusing on fuel importation rather than leveraging local refining capacity, including the Dangote Refinery, which can process 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
The coalition argued that the ongoing reliance on fuel imports is undermining Nigeria’s economy, weakening the naira, and harming local industries. CELT accused Kyari of sabotaging domestic refineries and undermining Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) efforts to stabilize the currency.
CELT also called for an immediate investigation into fuel importation practices, urging regulatory bodies to verify the quality of imported fuel and scrutinize financial claims made by petroleum marketers. Additionally, the coalition demanded Kyari’s dismissal to restore transparency and accountability to the industry and prevent further economic harm.
