This Friday, October 22, an unprecedented protest shook the streets of Lagos, Nigeria’s economic capital. Thousands of people gathered to demand the resignation of Mele Kyari, the Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). The protesters, led by activists Kabir Matazu and Danielsi Momoh, strongly criticized his management, which they described as incompetent and lacking transparency.
Indeed, since taking office, Mele Kyari has failed to deliver on several crucial commitments, including the restarting of local refineries. Despite massive investments by the federal government to repair these facilities, protesters highlight the lack of a clear roadmap for their revitalization. This failure not only contributes to the instability of fuel supplies, but also undermines the implementation of the government’s “Renewed Hope” agenda.
In an open letter addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Right Honourable Tajudeen Abbas, Kabir Matazu and Danielsi Momoh also decried alleged corruption within the NNPCL. They called for the establishment of a commission of inquiry to look into allegations of malfeasance and fraud under Mr. Kyari and demanded stringent measures to regulate the importation of substandard petroleum products.
The protesters stressed the urgency of the situation and demanded the removal of Mele Kyari. They called for his appointment by a qualified individual who will instill transparency and productivity in the country’s oil sector. The massive protest reflects the growing dissatisfaction of the population with the current leadership of the NNPCL and underscores the urgent need for institutional reforms to ensure more efficient and accountable management.
Ultimately, this citizen mobilization underscores the critical importance of good governance in the oil sector to ensure Nigeria’s prosperity and energy security. All eyes are now on the relevant authorities to take concrete steps to address the legitimate demands of citizens and restore confidence in the country’s oil industry.