Fuel scarcity has reached a boiling point in Nigeria, igniting protests across Abuja on Monday as frustrated citizens took to the streets, demanding urgent action from the federal government.
Led by the Coalition of Concerned Civil Society Organizations of Nigeria, the rally at the iconic Unity Fountain was a piercing cry for accountability amidst a crisis that has left millions struggling.
Convener Comrade Aminu Abbas directed sharp criticism at Mr. Mele Kyari, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), pointing fingers at his leadership for the dire situation facing the nation.
Vivid placards punctuated the air with messages of frustration: “We are tired of hearing stories about our refineries,” read one, while another declared, “No direction, Kyari is just drifting with the wind,” and a third demanded, “We want accountability in the affairs of NNPCL.”
The coalition rallied against the deteriorating state of the nation’s refineries, alleging a shocking level of sabotage that has transformed what was once a manageable issue into a seemingly hopeless crisis.
“Why do we, the people, have to endure endless queues, inflated prices, and the daily uncertainty of whether we can fuel our vehicles or power our homes? The answer lies in the gross incompetence and mismanagement,” Abbas said.
“What has Kyari done to alleviate this crisis? Where are the solutions? Why are our refineries, which should be the backbone of our fuel supply, still in disrepair?”
This protest comes as fears mount that the fuel scarcity, particularly of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), known as petrol, is far from over. NNPC Limited itself has exposed its precarious situation, admitting to a staggering debt of $6 billion to its petrol suppliers—a debt that has throttled supply to a trickle, triggering a six-week-long crisis.
In a statement, Chief Communications Officer Olufemi Soneye acknowledged that this financial burden has severely strained NNPC operations.
Barely three weeks after youth across the nation protested against hunger and the rising cost of living, Abuja is now a stage for another urgent outcry for change, with organizers planning a new wave of protests in October. The people’s patience is wearing thin, and their voices, amplified in the streets, herald a call to action that can no longer be ignored.
