By David Torough, Abuja

The Civil Society Network on Economic and Social Advancement (CSNOESA) has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately sack the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari for lack of competency, transparency and accountability.

The group led by its national spokesperson, Abukakar Yale made the call at a world press conference in Abuja on Wednesday. They said that despite huge resources invested in the company, incessant fuel scarcity has persisted across the country at exorbitant rates thereby causing untold hardship to Nigerians.The group pointed out that on assumption of office for over four years ago, Kyari’s promise to make Nigeria’s refineries to work failed.According to the group, the NNPCL under Kyari has also faced with a litany of allegations that paint a glooming picture of mismanagement, corruption and a blatant disregard for the directives of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu.They said that they would be left with no choice than to launching a nationwide campaign to collect one million signatures, which we will presented to President Tinubu as a clear demonstration of the people’s resolve to end the reign of mismanagement and corruption at the NNPCL.”The allegations against the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPC Limited, Engr. Mele Kyari, are not mere hearsay; they are substantiated by credible evidence that demands immediate attention and action.”Again, It is general knowledge that President Tinubu means well for Nigerians but Kyari’s disregard for President Tinubu’s directive to sell crude oil to the Dangote Refinery in Naira is trying to paint the President in bad light.”This disregard for the President’s order undermines our nation’s efforts to support local refining capacity and reduce our reliance on imported petroleum products. “Furthermore, the revelation that NNPC Limited staff members and oil traders are operating a blending plant in Malta raises serious questions about the company’s commitment to transparency and accountability.”We are appalled by the mounting allegations of fraud, embezzlement, and corruption within the NNPC Limited under the leadership of Engr. Mele Kyari. “The reports of fuel subsidy scams, under-remittance of oil sales revenue, corruption, shady pipeline surveillance contracts, and oil theft are simply unacceptable. These acts of financial impropriety have had a devastating impact on the majority of Nigerians, while benefiting only a few greedy individuals.”One of the most alarming allegations is the deduction of N2.1 trillion from the monthly revenue of NNPC, which was not remitted to the Federation Account. This is a blatant violation of the public trust and a clear indication of the mismanagement of our nation’s resources.”Additionally, the supply of adulterated or bad fuel that entered the country from 2022 to 2024, causing damage to many vehicle engines and generators, is a grave concern. “These allegations of massive corruption and fraudulent diversion of billions of dollars to personal and cronies’ accounts must be thoroughly investigated, and Engr. Mele Kyari should be prosecuted if found guilty.The NNPC Limited has not been transparent in publishing its crude contracts and statements of accounts under Engr. Mele Kyari’s leadership. In 2022, Kyari and the NNPC management failed to remit any funds to the Federation Account for seven consecutive months. Despite Nigeria recording N16 trillion in oil sales during that year, the NNPC did not make any remittances. This lack of financial responsibility is unacceptable and raises serious questions about the management of the company’s revenues.”Mele Kyari must be held accountable for these actions and provide transparency regarding the companies that received subsidy payments. “Sadly, it is even more concerning that Engr. Mele Kyari, who allegedly shortchanged every Nigerian through under-remittance to the Federation, has been allowed to remain in charge of the NNPC Limited, while heads of other important departments and the EFCC have been sacked, arrested, and probed. This raises the question of why the case of the NNPC Limited led by Engr. Mele Kyari is being treated differently.” the group submitted.