The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has sharply criticized the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for the persistent fuel scarcity plaguing the nation, accusing the company of deep-rooted corruption and inefficiency.
The organization also raised concerns about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s alleged complicity, suggesting that he may have been compromised by NNPCL bureaucrats, rendering him unable or unwilling to address the crisis that continues to afflict Nigerians.
In a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA lamented that fuel shortages, once an anomaly, have become the norm across major cities like Abuja, where long queues at gas stations are now a regular sight.
The association dismissed the NNPCL’s various excuses for the crisis, arguing that the company is deliberately allowing the situation to persist for its gain.
HURIWA alleged that the ongoing scarcity is a deliberate act of sabotage, benefiting the top echelons of the NNPCL while ordinary Nigerians suffer.
The group suggested that this crisis, combined with reported issues at the Dangote Refinery, indicates a coordinated effort to undermine the refinery and maintain NNPCL’s monopoly over the petroleum industry.
The human rights group also warned that President Tinubu’s silence on this issue is fueling public frustration, which could soon boil over into widespread protests against the NNPCL.
HURIWA stressed the urgent need for the government to resolve the crisis before it triggers a national outcry.
Moreover, HURIWA condemned the heavy-handed response of security forces to civil protests, accusing them of systematically suppressing Nigerians’ constitutional rights.
The association warned that these actions threaten to destabilize the country’s democracy, as growing discontent among the populace could reach a breaking point.
HURIWA called on Nigerians to remain vigilant in defending their rights and urged the government to respect civil liberties, which are crucial for the survival of democracy in Nigeria.
