Felix Osakwe, the 2023 National Rescue Movement (NRM) presidential candidate, has sharply criticized the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) leadership for the ongoing fuel scarcity.
Osakwe specifically targeted NNPCL Managing Director Mele Kyari and President Bola Tinubu, who also serves as Petroleum Minister, for failing to effectively address the crisis.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Osakwe questioned Tinubu’s decision to appoint himself as Petroleum Minister. “How can a president make himself the Minister of Petroleum? Out of 200 million Nigerians, he didn’t trust anyone to fill the position?” Osakwe’s statement highlights concerns about transparency and accountability within the oil sector.
Osakwe further criticized NNPCL for the “conspiracy” surrounding petroleum sector management, implying a hidden agenda worsening fuel shortages.
He also slammed NNPCL for discrediting the Dangote Refinery, citing officials’ claims of substandard fuel quality without disciplinary action against the responsible official, calling it an “economic disaster.”
Oil and gas expert Barrister Odemwige Osaro agreed, stating Kyari’s continued NNPCL leadership harms Nigerians. Since Kyari’s 2019 appointment, petrol prices skyrocketed from N145.48 to nearly N1,000 per liter, exacerbating economic hardships.
Osaro emphasized President Tinubu’s hesitation in restructuring NNPCL raises questions about the administration’s commitment to solving the fuel crisis.
