Crude Oil Controversy: Ethnic Youth Leaders Urge Tinubu to Sack NNPCL MD Kyari

A coalition of ethnic nationality youth leaders in Nigeria has called for the immediate dismissal of Mele Kyari, the Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).

They accuse the NNPCL of sabotaging efforts to fix indigenous refineries and hindering the start-up of the Dangote refinery.

This was outlined in a communique issued by the Nigeria Ethnic Nationality Youth Leaders Council Worldwide on Tuesday after their meeting in Abuja.

The communique, shared with journalists, was endorsed by Comrade Terry Obeih, President General of the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders/NENYLCW, Alhaji Balarabe Rufai, President of the Northern Youth Congress/Vice President of NENYLCW, Aare Oladotun Hassan Esq, President of the Yoruba Council of Youths Worldwide/Secretary General of NENYLCW, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, National President of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide/Publicity Secretary of NENYLCW, Comrade Emmanuel Zopmal, President of the Middle-Belt Youth Council/Organising Secretary of NENYLCW, and Alhaji Hamisu Dass, President of the North-East Youth Assembly/Treasurer of NENYLCW.

Their demand follows an outcry by Devakumar Edwin, Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), who alleged that International Oil Companies (IOCs) were obstructing the Dangote Refinery’s fuel supply operations by selling crude oil at inflated prices.

Edwin claimed that the IOCs were deliberately inflating premium prices above market rates, forcing the refinery to import crude from distant countries like the United States, resulting in significantly higher costs.

The youth leaders described the situation as unacceptable and criticized the frustration of public hopes for the Dangote refinery to reduce fuel costs.

“We met today, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, to review the economic situation in the country and its impact on the common masses. Our analysis shows that the NNPCL is undermining the government’s efforts to make fuel affordable for Nigerians,” the group stated.

They recalled that NNPCL MD Mele Kyari had promised in March that the Port Harcourt refinery would start production within two weeks. Kyari had assured the Senate ad-hoc committee on the Nigerian Refineries’ Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) Projects that over 450,000 barrels of oil were stored at the Port Harcourt refinery and that mechanical work on the Warri refinery was also complete.

However, the group expressed disappointment that three months later, there is no indication that the refinery will begin operations soon.

The youth leaders reiterated Edwin’s allegations against the IOCs and called for these issues to be addressed by the Federal Government, accusing a cabal within the NNPCL of deliberately preventing local petroleum refining to maintain control over imports and exploit Nigerians.

They demanded Kyari’s resignation and urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sack him if he refuses to step down. They also threatened to mobilize for a national protest to shut down the country if necessary.

The youth leaders called on the National Assembly, led by Senator Godswill Akpabio, to probe the NNPCL under Kyari’s leadership, emphasizing the importance of operational local refineries to alleviate the masses’ suffering.

“We reaffirm our support for Mr. President and hope he will take bold action in the interest of the country,” the group concluded.