The Tinubu/Shettima Mandate Actualization Group has called for the sack of Mele Kyari, group chief executive officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), over the scarcity of fuel currently affecting major cities in the country.
The group alleged that the fuel scarcity, at a time when Nigerians were still struggling to adjust to the removal of the fuel subsidy, was a plan by some people to set the citizens against the President Bola Tinubu-led government.
In a statement jointly signed by its president and secretary of the group; Abiodun Abdulrazaq and Aliyu Muhammad respectively, the group said that the Kyari led-NNPCL was fully notified of the ongoing turnaround maintenance of the refineries in Europe, which it said is responsible for the scarcity currently experienced.
The group, however, said that the NNPCL ought to have stocked a large volume of fuel that will sustain Nigerians throughout this dark period.
The group said: “The Tinubu/Shettima Mandate Actualization Group has noted with grave concern the unjustifiable fuel scarcity that is biting hard in most parts of Nigeria, which has continued to generate anti-Tinubu and APC commentaries, thereby putting our party in an extremely bad light.
“The scarcity is coming at a time when Nigerians are still struggling to adjust to the reality of the Petroleum Motor Spirit subsidy removal and depreciation of the Naira, which has resulted in a general increase in the prices of goods. Despite the recent appreciation of the Naira, marketers have refused to cut down the prices of their products.
“The ongoing scarcity will certainly add to the burden of inflation as the cost of transportation has already risen by over 100% in the areas assessed. The resultant effect will lead to hunger in the land as most families can no longer fend for themselves.
“We are particularly sad that the Mele Kolo Kyari-led NNPCL, which is the sole importer of the product promised Nigerians that the Port Harcourt Refinery would be ready in March 2024, the month has come and gone. The Nigerian Senate, disturbed by the plights of Nigerians visited the Refinery for inspection and informed Nigerians that the facility would be ready by December. The inability of Kyari to meet up with the timeline of the revamping of the industry despite adequate funding ought to have resigned or be sacked, if we are serious as a country.
“The ongoing Scarcity is attributed to the ongoing turnaround maintenance of refineries across Europe. This didn’t come without notice. A serious regulator or business ought to have stocked a large volume of products that will sustain Nigerians throughout this dark period. This, like other incidents, has proven the administrative weakness of Mr Kyari-led NNPCL.
“We need to remind President Tinubu that Naira confiscation wasn’t the only strategy deployed by his adversaries in the last administration to frustrate his ambition, fuel scarcity was also a veritable tool deployed. For the significant part of 2022 through early 2023, Nigerians lived with the scourge of Scarcity, yet, we were convinced to mobilize our people to vote for you.
“While Emefiele is facing the music of his actions and evil against Nigerians, we are sad that Mr President decided to reward Mele Kyari with an extended appointment. How can one man cause your ambassadors, your compatriots who love, trust and respect you to want to go against you?
“Given these circumstances, one is compelled to ask if Mr President believes Nigerians are second fiddle to Mele Kyari. It is on the strength of the above that we wish to call on Mr President to urgently sack and investigate the activities of Mr Kyari-led NNPCL to build Nigeria’s trust in government,” the group added.
