Probe fuel subsidy scam, dirty oil importation, CNPP urges FG

Irked by the problems in the oil sector, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has urged the Federal Government to immediately initiate an investigation into the activities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

The CNPP said that it is appalled by the recent controversies surrounding the NNPCL, including allegations of subsidy scams, importation of substandard petroleum products, and mismanagement of the Port Harcourt Refinery.

The Conference, in a statement made available in Kaduna on Sunday by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade James Ezema, said the issues have resulted in a nationwide shortage of petrol and caused immense hardship for Nigerians.

The group said, “Despite the pump price hike from N167 per litre to about N700 per litre under the guise of endless subsidy removal, petrol is still very scarce in the country, making citizens suffer more.

“We therefore demand that President Bola Tinubu take immediate action to address these issues by suspending the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Mele Kyari, and launching a thorough public probe into several allegations against the management of NNPC Limited.

“One among many accusations, including incompetence, is subsidy scam allegations that are particularly egregious, and the reported statement by Emir Sanusi that ‘people in NNPC don’t want their lucrative subsidy scam to end’ is a damning indictment of the company’s leadership.

“The allegation of the importation of substandard petroleum products in the country poses a significant risk to the health and safety of Nigerians, and the NNPC Limited’s failure to ensure the quality of these products under its current leadership is a dereliction of duty. The endless rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery, despite the huge sums of money already spent, is another testament to the mismanagement and inefficiency that plagues NNPC Limited, which manifests as long queues and locked-up filling stations.

“Mele Kyari’s leadership has been marked by controversy and failure, and his inability to address these issues makes him unfit to continue in his role. To save the economy that depends majorly on oil, President Tinubu must take decisive action to restore public trust and confidence in the institution.”

The CNPP also accused the NNPCL of importing adulterated fuel in 2022 and questioned the absence of prosecutions despite the company’s claims of investigations.

The group further questioned the existence of the subsidy, suggesting it might be a cover for corruption within the NNPCL. It demanded the arrest and prosecution of those involved in oil theft.

“We recall the 2022 incident where NNPC Limited, under Mele Kyari’s supervision, imported and supplied adulterated Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in Nigeria. The company’s trading arm, Duke Oil, was involved in the importation of the substandard product, highlighting the need for accountability and transparency. MRS, one of the companies indicted in the alleged importation and supply of the petrol, revealed that NNPC Limited, through its trading arm, Duke Oil, supplied the cargoes of PMS purchased from international trader Litasco.

“The GCEO Mele Kyari said that NNPC investigation revealed the presence of methanol and accused four companies: MRS, Emadeb/Hyde/AY Maikifi/Brittania-U Consortium, Oando, and Duke Oil of importing the four adulterated PMS cargoes. One of the companies Mele Kyari indicted in the alleged importation and supply of the bad petrol in 2022 is Duke Oil, and none of the companies was prosecuted to date because Mele Kyari cannot probe and prosecute himself.

“Mele Kyari’s attempt to continue to play the victim, as displayed during his testimony before a Senate ad hoc committee investigating alleged economic sabotage in the petroleum industry, is unacceptable. His vow to reveal the truth about the company’s operations at the appropriate time rings hollow, given his history of controversy and failure.

“We call for a transparent, independent, and thorough probe into these allegations, with consequences for those found guilty of any wrongdoing. The Nigerian people deserve better, and President Tinubu must act now to ensure that they get it without further suffering and deprivation.

“We strongly believe that there is no subsidy being paid by NNPC Limited. Mele Kyari and the subsidy cartel, we reasonably suspect, are using petrol subsidy as a bait to sustain the corruption in NNPC Limited over the years to keep raking in millions of dollars in the name of subsidy payments and the campaign against crude oil thieves that are never arrested and prosecuted. We need to see those stealing our oil in the court of law undergoing diligent prosecution.

“Mr. President, it’s time to end the years of siege in Nigeria’s oil industry, and it’s time to hold NNPC Limited accountable by immediately suspending Mele Kyari and independently probing the subsidy scam and other allegations in Nigeria’s upstream and downstream oil sectors to save the economy and minimise hunger.”