Ethnic youth leaders respond to Dangote’s accusations of sabotage by international oil companies

By Abubakar Yunusa

The Apex umbrella body for the over 407 Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders in Nigeria, on Tuesday, accused the General Managing Director, GMD/CEO, of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, NNPCL, Mele Kyari, of sabotaging the fixing of indigenous refineries to the benefit of the subsidy cartel.

Mr. Devakumar Edwin, Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), accused International Oil Companies (IOCs) of obstructing the refinery by inflating crude oil prices.

“The IOCs were intentionally obstructing the refinery’s efforts to purchase local crude by inflating premium prices above market rates,” Edwin stated, “forcing the refinery to import crude from distant countries like the United States, leading to significantly higher costs.”

The communique, endorsed by leaders from various ethnic youth councils, expressed strong disapproval.

Comrade Terry Obeih, President General of Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders, described the situation as “unacceptable” during a press briefing in Abuja.

“It is strange that all the hopes the citizens placed on the Dangote refinery to bring down the cost of fuel are being frustrated,” Obeih said.

The CSOs met on June 25, 2024, to review the economic situation and concluded that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) is sabotaging government efforts to make fuel affordable.

Obeih recalled an earlier promise by NNPCL MD Mele Kyari that the Port Harcourt refinery would begin production within two weeks. Despite Kyari’s assurances during a Senate committee hearing, the refinery remains non-operational.

“We did a mechanical completion of the refinery,” Kyari had said, “and I assure you that this Port Harcourt refinery will start in the next two weeks.”

The CSOs argue that the liberalization of the petroleum industry, meant to benefit the country, has failed to do so. “Should Kyari fail to resign, the youths will not hesitate to mobilize for a national protest,” Obeih warned, “if that is the only way to rescue Nigeria.”

The communique also called on the National Assembly, led by Senator Godswill Akpabio, to probe the NNPCL within seven days.

The CSOs believe that with fully operational local refineries, Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuel will decrease, alleviating the suffering of the masses.