BUSINESS DAY
Nigerians have staged protests against the continuing fuel scarcity in the country and its ripple effects on the citizenry and the economy.
Africa’s most populous nation and one of the world’s leading oil producers has been plagued by persistent fuel scarcity, with no end in sight.
In the last two months, many Nigerians have slept at petrol stations where long queues have become a common feature across the country. No word of hope, or assurance of possible relief has been heard from its president, Bola Tinubu, who doubles as minister of petroleum.
His appointed minister of state for petroleum resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, has also kept mum since the current rounds of petrol scarcity hit the nation.
On Sunday, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), a state-owned entity and sole importer of refined petrol, said it now faces financial strain, indicating that the current product scarcity will worsen in days and weeks to come.
On Monday in Abuja, a coalition of concerned civil society organisations took to the streets. At the Unity Fountain, Abuja, the groups demanded immediate action from the government to address the crisis.
The protesters, frustrated by long queues at fuel stations, inflated prices, and the uncertainty of securing fuel for their daily needs, called for the dismissal of Mele Kyari, the group managing director of NNPCL. They accused Kyari of failing to resolve the crisis, which they say has deepened under his leadership.
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