The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, has called for the immediate suspension of the managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mele Kyari.
Expressing outrage over the recent controversy surrounding the corporation, the conference, in a statement made available to journalists on Sunday, also called for a probe into the alleged subsidy scam, substandard imports and mismanagement of the Port Harcourt refinery.
A statement signed by the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the group, James Ezema, said the NNPC should be held accountable for the economic hardship the removal of the fuel subsidy has plunged Nigerians into.
“It is time to hold NNPC Limited accountable by immediately suspending Mele Kyari and independently probing the subsidy scam and other allegations in Nigeria’s upstream and downstream oil sectors to save the economy and minimize hunger.” The statement read.
The recent pump price hike from N167 to about N700 per litre under the guise of endless subsidy removal, according to the conference, has not alleviated the nationwide shortage of petrol, causing immense hardship for Nigerians.
Sad that despite the pump price hike, petrol is still very scarce in the country, making citizens suffer more, the CNPP, in its statement, faulted Mele Kyari’s leadership for being marked by controversy and failure.
“Mele Kyari’s leadership has been marked by controversy and failure, and his inability to address these issues makes him unfit to continue in his role,” CNPP said.
CNPP also highlighted the allegation of subsidy scam, which it described as “particularly egregious,” and the reported statement by the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido, that “people in NNPC don’t want their lucrative subsidy scam to end” as a damning indictment of the company’s leadership.
CNPP expressed concern over the alleged importation of substandard petroleum products which it said pose a significant risk to the health and safety of Nigerians.
“The allegation on the importation of substandard petroleum products in the country poses a significant risk to the health and safety of Nigerians,” CNPP said.
The CNPP also criticized the endless rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery, despite the huge sums of money already spent, saying it is another testament to the mismanagement and inefficiency that plagues NNPC Limited.
“The endless rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery, despite the huge sums of money already spent, is another testament to the mismanagement and inefficiency that plagues NNPC Limited,” CNPP said.
