The Afenifere Youth Wing has called for an independent investigation into the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) over its continued importation of refined petroleum products despite claims of local refinery repairs.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, the convener of the group, Isijola Shola, expressed disappointment over the corporation’s failure to meet its own deadlines for refinery rehabilitation while still relying heavily on fuel imports.
Shola recalled the NNPCL’s past assurances that the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries would end fuel shortages and reduce dependence on imports. However, he lamented that these promises had not been fulfilled, as the corporation remains the dominant importer of refined petroleum products.
“In January alone, NNPCL oversaw the importation of 489,065 metric tonnes of petrol and diesel, directly accounting for 72.25% of the total volume. In the last quarter of 2024, fuel importation stood at 3.6 million metric tonnes, with NNPCL responsible for nearly 69%,” he stated.
The group also raised concerns about the devaluation of the naira, linking it to the surge in fuel importation, and suggested that NNPCL’s activities contradict its claims of enhanced local refining capacity.
Shola further accused the corporation of misleading Nigerians and called on President Bola Tinubu to safeguard his administration’s credibility by initiating an independent probe.
The Afenifere Youth Wing is demanding a full audit into:
- The funds allocated for refinery rehabilitation.
- The reasons behind continued large-scale fuel importation.
- The forex sources used for the transactions.
- The identities of officials responsible for approving the imports.
To ensure transparency, the group urged the immediate suspension of NNPCL’s Managing Director, Mele Kyari, and other key officials pending the outcome of the investigation.
“Anything short of this will leave Nigerians with no choice but to assume that the President is complicit in the actions of NNPCL,” Shola warned.
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