Youths Demand NNPC Chief Mele Kyari Resign

|By Adejumo Adekunle –

Scores of young protesters and civil society groups gathered at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) headquarters on Monday, calling for the immediate resignation of the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari. The demonstrators, led by Abdullahi Bilal from the Two Million Man March Against Oil Scam Cabal, voiced frustration over soaring fuel prices, persistent fuel queues, and alleged importation of substandard fuel, blaming Kyari’s leadership for economic hardships in Nigeria.

The protesters carried placards reading “We Demand Immediate Resignation of Kyari,” accusing him of mismanaging Nigeria’s oil sector. Bilal addressed the crowd, asserting, “The current leadership has failed Nigerians, with skyrocketing fuel costs, fuel scarcity, and the importation of adulterated fuel harming our people. We demand full deregulation to ensure transparency and fairness.”

The protesters also questioned why fuel queues persist despite substantial investments in the Dangote refinery and other refineries. Civil society leaders Olayemi Isaac and Barrister Napoleon Otache urged President Bola Tinubu to hold the oil sector accountable and prioritize citizens’ welfare.

In response, NNPCL spokesperson Femi Soneye dismissed the allegations, stating, “These protesters misunderstand the sector. The GCEO ensured fuel remained accessible at N620 per liter, even when the actual cost was higher.” He challenged them to present evidence of imported adulterated fuel and confirmed NNPCL’s commitment to the administration’s energy agenda.