On Tuesday, more than 20,000 activists gathered at the Three Arms Zone in Abuja, urging the resignation of Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). Organized by the APC Solidarity and Development Forum, the demonstrators accused Kyari of incompetence and poor management, which they claim have contributed to escalating fuel prices, persistent fuel shortages, and heightened economic challenges for Nigerians.
Led by youth groups and civil society organizations, the protest underscored widespread frustration over soaring fuel costs and extended fuel queues that continue to affect daily life. In a formal letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, protest leaders Comrade Kabir Matazu and Danielsi Momoh attributed the ongoing fuel crisis to systemic failures in NNPCL’s leadership.
Despite multiple assurances from Kyari that the fuel shortage would be resolved, protesters expressed their disappointment, stating that conditions have not improved. They argued that the unaddressed issues are further deepening public dissatisfaction and undermining the presidency’s Renewed Hope agenda. The forum also criticized Kyari’s administration for its failure to make local refineries operational, even after a $4 billion investment from the Federal Government.
The letter further highlighted concerns regarding unresolved corruption cases within the NNPCL, with the protesters asserting that Kyari’s leadership is “detrimental to NNPCL and the Nigerian people.” They demanded new leadership that would bring accountability and efficiency to the petroleum sector, helping to alleviate the current hardships faced by the populace.
