No Transparency In NMDPRA’s Oil Sector Management – South-East Youth Group

In a bid to end what it described as grand and administrative corruption in the oil and gas sector, the South East Youth Vanguard for Good Governance (SEYVGG) has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately dismiss Mr. Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

The group also attributed the current scarcity of petroleum products across the country, which has continued to exacerbate the suffering of Nigerians to lack of transparency in the management and support of local refining capacity by the leadership of NMDPRA under Mr. Farouk Ahmed.

Addressing a press conference at the Godwin Ezeemo International Press Center Awka, Anambra State on Sunday 28 July, 2024, by the duo of Comrade Chuks Obele Favour and Comrade Minister Udochukwu; National Coordinator and National Secretary General of
Southeast Youth Vanguard For Good Governance respectively, the group called for a ban on the importation of refined petroleum products and the supply of crude oil to local refineries with immede effect.

“The ongoing fuel scarcity across several states in Nigeria continues to impose severe hardships on ordinary citizens, exacerbating the already high cost of living. This crisis has raised serious questions about the transparency in the management of the local oil production by the downstream which has led to a significant increase in the cost of transportation, affecting livelihoods of Nigerians to which NMDPRA management is complicit.

“It’s unacceptable that the so-called largest oil producer and exporter on the continent has continued to grapple with fuel scarcity due to a combination of factors, including inadequate refinery capacity, continuous pipeline vandalism, grand and administrative corruption, and inadequate infrastructure. These challenges have persisted for decades, and one expects that the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration will address the perennial crisis.

“Recent revelation shows that Mr. Farouk Ahmed has been heavily enmeshed in administrative corruption with the intent of self enrichment, including the direct theft of huge sums of money, diversion of products, sabotage of local refineries and other unscrupulous activities which have stunted Nigeria’s economic growth and progress, plunging many into poverty and suffering”, the text read in part.

The group urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to act swiftly and dismiss the CEO of NMDPRA, Mr. Farouk Ahmed and any other culprits involved in sabotaging Nigeria’s efforts to self sufficiency in the energy sector so as to end the sufferings of Nigerians and pave way for the actualisation of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration.

“The oil and gas sector requires men of impeccable character to handle it’s affairs without which corruption will reign supreme. It is therefore, our patriotic position that Mr.Farouk and all culprits be immediately dismissed, persecuted and if found guilty imprisoned. This will serve as deterrent to others and the issue of ‘Plea Bargain’ should not be allowed or permitted in any form.

“We are particularly appalled by the deliberate and open sabotage of local oil production in Nigeria by Farouk Ahmed. The audacity with which he launched a smear campaign against Dangote Refinery, labelling its products as substandard is shocking and highly condemnable. His shameless aversion and unpatriotic opposition to local refining is despicable and allowing him to remain in office will seriously harm the economy.

“Any attack on Dangote Refinery and indeed any indigenous business which had employed Nigerians in their numbers and the potential to end Nigeria’s dependence on oil importation is an attack on all well meaning Nigerians and it must be resisted. Mr. Farouk Ahmed is sadly, the face of the oil cabals operating within the Tinubu adminstration.

“He must therefore, be dismissed, if not, the proposed national protests which some of us have been working hard to stop may actually start from there. Our struggle is premised on the fact that the South-East youths and indeed youths all over the country are the most directly endangered by this sinister enterprise”, the text added.

While mandating Mr. President to dismiss Mr. Farouk Ahmed or face a fierce protest from Nigerian youths at NMDPRA headquarters, the group hailed the Dangote Group under the visionary leadership of Aliko Dangote for it’s far reaching impacts, stating further that the Dangote Refinery, for instance is “poised to transform Nigeria from a net importer to a net exporter of refined petroleum products, a development that will drastically reduce the nation’s dependency on imported fuels, saving billions of dollars annually in foreign exchange with a host of other economic benefits”.