Over 200 civil society groups, under the umbrella of the Coalition of Civil Society Groups Against Poverty in Africa (CoSGAPA) have called for the resignation of the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) Engr Mele Kyari, for the perceived mishandling of the fuel scarcity situation.

This is as the group announced plans for a nationwide protest due to the recent fuel scarcity and high cost of fuel across Nigeria.

Speaking during a press conference held in Abuja, the National Spokesperson of CoSGAPA, Mr. Aderonke Adebisi, said they condemn the suffering of Nigerians which he described as man-made scarcity in a ploy to stage Nigerians against the Tinubu Government and portray the President in bad light to the world.

He emphasized the impact of fuel scarcity on Nigerians, including increased prices of commodities, transportation fares, and challenges in running businesses.

He said “We are really pained and suspect acts of sabotage to the efforts of President Bola Tinubu to reposition and restore Nigeria’s economy but unfortunately, the actions of the Group Chief Executive Officer, GCEO, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, NNPCL, Engr Mele Kyari, tilts towards the way of a saboteur by allowing fuel scarcity to escalate and brought about untold suffering on Nigerians and their businesses.”

The civil society groups demanded Kyari’s immediate resignation or removal from office within a 7-day ultimatum.

The Civil Society groups also said it would mobilise her members across the nation for a nationwide protest to press on their demands for the resignation or sack of Engr Mele Kyari, the NNPCL GCEO and for a thorough investigation of key actors in the petroleum industry.

“The entire nation is engulfed with this scarcity that had negatively impacted the Naira appreciation, prices of commodities are now beyond the reach of Nigerians including high transport fares, inability to run their businesses, and the people are agitated because nobody is exempted.

“In fact, we have come to see and know about the abysmal performance of Kyari and his team, whereby the NNPC Limited has become an epicentre of controversy due to the misguided actions of Mele Kyari, which not only undermine President Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda but also cast a shadow on the credibility of the National oil company.

“We call on you Mr President today to demand Engr. Mele Kyari’s immediate sack or resignation from office as GCEO of NNPC Limited due to his deficiency in character required of his office and in a government that promises to renew the Hope of Nigerians. The scarcity of fuel, necessitating indiscriminate hike in price across the country is a bitter taste for Nigerians to swallow. It is time for Mr Kyari to go. We say in clear terms, Kyari MUST go.” (Nigerian Tribune)

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