Civil Society Groups Storm N’ Assembly, Demands NNPCL Rescinds Decision on Fuel Importation

* Says federal lawmakers lack capacity to probe rots in oil & gas sector

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja 

Non-governmental groups under the aegis of Nigerian Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (NICOCSO), besieged the National Assembly Thursday, and demanded that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) rescinds its decision to import over 1.6 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol.

The group, led by the spokesperson, Kennedy Tabuko, described the policy as a misstep and  a deliberate attempt to undermine Nigeria’s local refining capacity.

He said the move would also harm the economy and worsen the hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians.

The NICOCSO spokesperson said the coalition had perfected plans to stage nationwide protests in Abuja and other states if the nation’s oil firm failed to rescind its decision.

The group maintained that Nigerians must demand accountability, transparency and policies that would prioritize local refineries.

It argued that importing such a large quantity of petrol would put unnecessary strain on Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves. 

He said: “With the naira already struggling against major currencies, this decision will only worsen the depreciation of our currency.

“A weaker naira would lead to higher inflation, making everyday goods and services even less affordable for Nigerians. 

“The cost of importing fuel undermines the goal of achieving energy independence and diverts resources that could have been invested in local refineries.”

NICOCSO therefore vowed to hold those responsible accountable, and insisted that Nigerians cannot allow decisions that jeopardize the country’s future to go unchecked.

He said: “The importation of 1.6 billion litres of PMS by NNPCL is an affront to our nation. 

“It undermines our economy, delays our journey to energy independence, and places a tremendous burden on the Nigerian populace. 

“NICOCSO will remain steadfast in ensuring that public resources are utilized for the benefit of every Nigerian.”

Members of the coalition, armed with placards with various inscriptions, noted with regret that the Nigerian populace has been assured of functional refineries for too long without success.

According to Tabuko, “However, despite the staggering investment of over $20 billion since 2007, our refineries remain in disrepair. 

“Rather than prioritizing the establishment of local refining, NNPCL continues to foster a dependency on imports, stifling opportunities for local investment, economic growth and job creation.

“The NNPCL and the Federal Government must divulge the whereabouts of the $20 billion allocated for refinery repairs since 2007. Why are our refineries still inactive?

“NNPCL must provide explicit timelines for the operation of our three major refineries. Transparency and accountability are essential for the Nigerian people.

“NNPCL should abandon its monopolistic justifications and foster competitive policies that encourage local refining and attract private investment.

“We urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately cease the importation of 1.6 billion litres of PMS and investigate the procurement process to ensure it is transparent and accountable.

“The president should also remove NNPCL leaders responsible for these detrimental decisions.

“Should our demands go unheeded, NICOCSO will escalate protests across the nation. It is crucial to hold NNPCL accountable for its betrayal of public trust.

“In our pursuit of justice, NICOCSO is excited to announce that the first leg of our nationwide rallies will kick off Thursday, November 21, 2024, starting in Abuja (North-central). 

“The rallies will extend to other states from Friday, November 22.” 

The NICOCSO spokesperson said the group does not believe that the National Assembly joint committee currently probing the rots in the oil and gas sector lacked the capacity to do a thorough job.

He therefore urged the Federal Government to set up a broad-based committee comprising the civil society organisations, the organised labour unions, the private sector, the students and the market leaders to carry out a holistic probe of the sector.

“First of all, you remember that there was an initial committee constituted by the National Assembly. However because of power plays, that committee was dissolved and a new one was constituted.

“Up to the next tomorrow, nobody has heard anything from them. The Federal Government, as led by President Bola Tinubu, should constitute a special committee of the people, comprising the trade union, market women, students, and whatever.

“Let’s go and investigate what is actually happening in this refinery. The National Assembly probe will lead to nowhere like the previous ones because they lack the capacity to do the job”