Stakeholders vow to expose oil thieves in Nigeria, back reforms by Mele Kyari

The Pan-Nigerian Octopus Coalition for Social Justice has vowed to expose oil thieves in Nigeria.

The stakeholders in the oil industry made this known at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, addressed by its convener, Comrade Friday Maduka.

They also accused unscrupulous elements in the oil industry of sponsoring a campaign of calumny against the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Mr Mele Kyari, due to his reforms in the sector.

The coalition, representing a diverse cross-section of Nigerian society, denounced what they called “a farrago of lies, gross distortions, and truth inversion” perpetrated by the “Coalition of GMD NNPC Mele Kyari Must Go.”

The coalition highlighted the remarkable achievements of Mallam Kyari during his tenure as the head of NNPCL.

They praised his commitment to transforming the oil sector, Nigeria’s economic backbone, noting that under his leadership, the NNPCL was restructured, aimed at improving efficiency, profitability, and governance practices.

”Mallam Kyari’s administration also succeeded in curbing illegal activities in the oil sector, including bunkering, oil pipeline vandalism, and financial malfeasance.

”Over 260 illegal pipe pilfering points were identified and addressed, preventing the loss of trillions of Naira from the national treasury,” the coalition said.

They attributed the achievements to President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Hope Agenda, which allowed Mallam Kyari to realize his vision for a more transparent and efficient NNPC.

The coalition accused certain individuals of sponsoring faceless groups to malign Mr Kyari’s reputation and credibility, motivated by their vested interests in the previous corrupt order.

They described these efforts as unpatriotic and driven by ignorance and fanaticism.

In response to the allegations and smear campaign against Mallam Kyari, the coalition announced their intention to organise a massive four-million-man rally.