A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) staged a protest at the National Assembly on Friday, expressing concerns over the ongoing impasse between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and Dangote Refinery.
The demonstrators highlighted that this deadlock adversely affects the daily lives of Nigerians, particularly in terms of fuel availability and pricing.
The CSOs emphasized the critical need for NNPCL to comply with directives to supply crude oil to Dangote Refinery in Naira, as mandated by President Bola Tinubu.
They argued that adherence to this directive would enhance local refining capacity, reduce dependence on imported petroleum products, and stabilize fuel prices.
In August 2024, the coalition announced plans to establish a situation room to monitor NNPCL’s compliance with this directive, underscoring their commitment to holding the corporation accountable.
The protest also addressed broader challenges within Nigeria’s oil sector, including the non-operational state of government-owned refineries and the resultant reliance on fuel importation.
The CSOs called for comprehensive reforms to revitalize the oil industry, ensure transparency, and safeguard the interests of Nigerian citizens.
The protest reflects growing public dissatisfaction with the current state of Nigeria’s oil industry and the perceived lack of progress in addressing longstanding challenges.
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