Nigerian Youth Patriots Demand Sack of NNPCL GMD, Probe into Alleged Refinery Corruption
The Nigerian Youth Patriots (NYP), a national organization championing patriotism among the country’s youth, has called for the immediate dismissal of Mele Kyari, the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). The group is also urging a comprehensive investigation into alleged corruption surrounding the nation’s oil refineries.
In a recent appearance on Radio Nigeria’s “Radio Link,” Amb. Timothy Nwachukwu, President of NYP, expressed deep concern over the ongoing fuel scarcity in the country, despite Nigeria’s status as an oil-producing nation. Nwachukwu criticized the continuous importation of refined petroleum products, describing it as a clear indication of corruption and mismanagement within the NNPCL under Kyari’s leadership.
“It is disheartening that Nigeria, an oil-producing nation, continues to grapple with fuel shortages while billions of naira are expended on fuel importation. This is a clear indication of corruption and mismanagement at the highest level of the NNPCL,” Nwachukwu stated during the program.
The NYP alleged that Nigeria’s refineries have been deliberately left non-operational to justify the ongoing importation of refined petroleum products, which they believe benefits a select few at the expense of the general public. The group highlighted the substantial investments in the nation’s refineries, including over $4 billion spent on turnaround maintenance and N127.326 billion on salaries and employee benefits between 2020 and 2021. Despite these expenditures, the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries have yet to resume operations.
Nwachukwu pointed to multiple missed deadlines for refinery operations, with the most recent being a commitment by Kyari in July 2024 that the Port Harcourt refinery would come online in early August. He noted that similar promises were made in 2019, with Kyari assuring Nigerians that all refineries would be operational by the end of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
In light of these ongoing issues, the NYP is calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take decisive action by removing Kyari from his position and ensuring that those responsible for the alleged sabotage of the oil sector are held accountable. The group also urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to launch an immediate investigation into the management of the refineries and the broader operations of the NNPCL.
The demand for accountability comes at a critical time as Nigerians continue to face fuel shortages, rising prices, and economic hardships, while the nation’s oil wealth remains under scrutiny.
