During a press conference held in Abuja on Friday, November 15, CELT's Executive Director, Henry Owolabi, criticized NNPCL’s Group CEO, Mele Kyari, for prioritizing fuel imports over the development of domestic refining capabilities.
From October 1 to November 11, Nigeria imported 1.5 million metric tonnes of premium motor spirit, 414,018 metric tonnes of diesel, and 13,500 metric tonnes of aviation fuel.
Owolabi denounced this trend, highlighting the Dangote Refinery's ability to process 650,000 barrels of oil per day as a feasible alternative.
“Kyari’s intentional neglect of our refineries is a criminal act,” Owolabi stated, noting that such importation practices worsen Nigeria’s currency issues.
CELT argued that Kyari’s actions are detrimental to President Bola Tinubu’s initiatives aimed at bolstering the naira through local crude sales to domestic refineries.
“This reckless importation undermines the naira and disregards the President’s efforts to stabilize the economy,” Owolabi remarked.
The coalition called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to cease further payments for fuel imports and demanded a thorough regulatory review of the financial and quality standards of imported fuel.
“Kyari and his associates should procure their own foreign exchange if they are determined to import what can be produced locally,” CELT asserted.
In calling for Kyari’s removal, CELT stressed the importance of transparency and accountability within NNPCL. The coalition also advocated for a focus on domestic refining to enhance energy security, lower costs, and foster economic development.
“This scandal serves as a crucial reminder for the government to invest in operational refineries and redirect resources to essential sectors such as healthcare and education,” Owolabi concluded.