A coalition of energy rights activists, the Energy Justice Forum, EJF, has tasked the new NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, not to inherit what it described as “the dubious, dollar-chasing reforms” of the former GCEO, Mele Kyari.
Insisting that Nigerians deserve transparency, the forum warned that the country cannot build a sustainable energy future on the back of secrecy and elitist policies.
A statement, on Friday, by Dr Godknows Manager, the Coalition’s national president, called for a clear audit of Kyari’s tenure, involving all contracts, swaps, and transactions.
The statement said, “It would be a fatal mistake for the new leadership at NNPCL to continue on the path orchestrated by Kyari, a path that nearly collapsed our economy, undermined local refining, and exposed the country to foreign exchange shocks.
“We are watching closely. Nigerians are watching. And we will not hesitate to mobilise civil society resistance if old habits creep back in through the back door.”
“Nigerians deserve transparency, not tokenism; energy justice, not backdoor deals.
“There must be a clear audit of Kyari’s tenure, all contracts, all swaps, and all the shady transactions disguised as ‘liberalisation’. We are demanding full disclosure and accountability.”
The forum also commended the executive arm of government for restoring the naira-for-crude policy, asserting that the move benefits local refineries and the broader Nigerian populace.
It noted that the policy shift is not just in the interest of Dangote Refinery but a long-overdue redirection for local refining capacity and everyday Nigerians who have long borne the burden of an import-dependent energy system.
Manager described the decision as “the most patriotic intervention in Nigeria’s petroleum sector in recent history,” and urged the newly appointed leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to align with the president’s reformist path.
“We must be clear, this policy is not about Dangote alone. It is about returning value to Nigerians, enabling refineries in Warri, Port Harcourt, and Kaduna to thrive, and ensuring that Nigerians are not perpetually held hostage to dollar-denominated fuel pricing.”
Manager further encouraged the new board to strengthen collaborations with indigenous investors and local engineers to ensure that Nigeria’s refining ambitions are realised.
“We cannot build a sustainable energy future on the back of secrecy and elitist policies. This is a new dawn. The new NNPCL must walk in light, not shadows,” he added.