Protesters Storm National Assembly, Demand Dismissal Of NNPCL Boss Mele Kyari

On Friday, the Nigerian Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (NICOCSO) staged a protest at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, calling for the immediate dismissal of Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

The group alleged that Kyari’s policies have hindered local refinery initiatives and maintained Nigeria’s dependence on fuel imports.

During the rally, the coalition criticized the NNPCL for what they described as profit-driven policies that obstruct domestic initiatives toward energy independence.

NICOCSO spokesperson Segun Adebayo urged President Bola Tinubu to investigate NNPCL’s management of the oil sector and reform its policies to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products.

The group also advocated for a shift to selling Nigerian crude oil to local refineries in naira to curb foreign exchange losses, support local industries, and protect the economy from global oil price fluctuations.

NICOCSO warned that if their demands for transparency and reform are not met, they plan to extend their protests to all 36 states.

Benjamin James, national coordinator for NICOCSO, stated, “We demand that Nigeria take ownership of its resources for the benefit of all Nigerians, not just a privileged few.”