By Milcah Tanimu
On Friday, protesters stormed the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, calling for immediate action on alleged corruption within Nigeria’s petroleum sector. The protest, organized by the Nigerian Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (NICOCSO), criticized policies they say harm local refinery development and force Nigeria into costly fuel imports.
NICOCSO demanded an investigation into the alleged “sabotage” of local refinery projects, claiming that actions by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) prevent Nigeria from becoming self-sufficient in fuel production. The coalition also called for the removal of Mele Kyari, NNPCL’s Group CEO, whom they accuse of supporting policies that hinder local fuel production and favor expensive imports of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
“These policies focus only on profit and fail to support initiatives for Nigeria’s energy independence,” stated NICOCSO spokesperson Segun Adebayo at the rally.
Adebayo argued that NNPCL’s reliance on fuel imports drains Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves, weakens the naira, and adds economic strain, benefiting only a small group within the NNPCL. He pointed to local entrepreneurs like Aliko Dangote, whose investment in the Dangote Refinery could reduce reliance on fuel imports and boost the economy. However, NICOCSO claims NNPCL prioritizes imports over local refinery efforts, discouraging potential investors and job creation.
The protesters urged President Bola Tinubu to caution NNPCL’s leadership and investigate alleged corrupt practices within the petroleum sector to support Nigeria’s path to energy independence.
