A coalition of civil society organizations, the Nigerian Coalition of Civil Society Organizations (NICOCSO), has called for an immediate investigation into what it describes as deliberate “sabotage” aimed at hindering the rehabilitation of Nigeria’s refineries. The group also demanded the removal of Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), accusing his management of prioritizing profits over the nation’s energy self-sufficiency.
In a protest held at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Friday, NICOCSO’s national spokesperson, Segun Adebayo, accused NNPCL of creating policies that favor profits at the expense of developing local refining capacity. He urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene, cautioning the NNPCL leadership against actions that could worsen Nigeria’s economic challenges.
“Despite Nigeria’s potential for local refining, vested interests within NNPCL continue to rely on imported Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), costing the country billions in foreign exchange annually. This dependence weakens our economy and exposes us to fluctuations in global oil prices,” Adebayo stated, alleging that NNPCL is obstructing local refinery operations, including the newly constructed Dangote Refinery.
NICOCSO also advocated for a policy shift that would enable Nigerian crude oil to be sold to local refineries in naira, rather than dollars. The group’s national coordinator, Benjamin James, argued that this change would help reduce foreign exchange losses and support the growth of local industries. “Selling crude domestically in naira would reinforce our commitment to the local economy, create jobs, reduce fuel costs, and protect the naira,” James said.
The coalition has called for the resignation of Mele Kyari as NNPCL CEO and warned of further protests across Nigeria if their demands are not met. “If no action is taken, NICOCSO will organize daily rallies in all 36 states to advocate for transparency, reform, and accountability within NNPCL. The future of our economy and the welfare of citizens depend on achieving energy independence,” Adebayo concluded.
