Nigerians are voicing their frustration over the recent trip of the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari to Saudi Arabia for religious purposes. This visit has sparked widespread outrage as the nation grapples with a severe fuel scarcity crisis.
Kyari shared images and videos of his journey on social media, drawing criticism for leaving the country during a time of significant distress.
Many depots for Premium Motor Spirit, commonly known as petrol, have run dry, resulting in long queues at fuel stations across Lagos, Ogun, Kano, Niger, and several other states.
The scarcity has also led to the rise of black market activities, with petrol being sold at exorbitant prices ranging from N1,200 to N1,500 per litre, depending on the location.
Despite reassurances from the NNPC that efforts are being made to resolve distribution and logistics issues, the fuel scarcity persists, intensifying public frustration and raising questions about leadership priorities in the face of a national crisis.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has accused NNPC of failing to supply adequate fuel to its members, who operate a significant portion of the country’s filling stations, according to The Punch.
Nigerians expressed their displeasure on Wednesday, acknowledging that while Kyari’s trip may be a personal matter, it reflects poorly on his leadership during a period of national distress.
The Executive Director of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, Debo Adeniran, criticised Kyari for his perceived lack of empathy, noting the NNPC boss should have demonstrated greater sensitivity to the crisis.
“Some of our leaders are simply uncaring. They are insensitive to the plight of their compatriots. And that is what Mele Kiari could have demonstrated.
“This is not the time that our leaders should be displaying a kind of, like a drastic attitude towards the plight of Nigerians. They should show a high level of empathy. Even if the pains and pangs of the economic downturn are not touching them, they should at least pretend that they care for our welfare.
“Just like many people have wondered, why should he remain in office till now? We thought that the present administration would change the face of the petroleum economy in this country. But nothing seems to be changing. It is like we are moving from a frying pan to a fire. So he doesn’t have anything new to introduce to NNPC,” Adeniran said.
He further called for Kyari’s removal, questioning the effectiveness of the current administration’s handling of the petroleum sector.
The executive director noted, “He should be removed. He does not even care a hoot. He doesn’t show any sense of empathy.”
The Co-Convener of the Civil Society Situation Room, Ugochukwu James, while acknowledging Kyari’s right to travel, emphasised the need for greater sensitivity.
“Well, I don’t think I have any issue with him traveling. It’s his fundamental right to move around and go wherever he wants to go. But the question is, how is he going to feel if you get to Saudi Arabia and there’s long queues of fuel everywhere and he could not get to his destination from the airport.
“These are the things that he should be thinking as he’s in the Holy Land. What is he going to do to ensure that when he comes back, the freedom of movement, and the ease he is enjoying in Saudi Arabia is replicated here in Nigeria?
“He needs to show some level of sensitivity in this issue. Let people have a feeling that, yes, you have their interests at heart,” James remarked.
The Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Auwal Musa voiced concerns on the conduct of public servants during Nigeria’s current crises.
Referring specifically to Kyari’s tweet, Musa pointed out that many Nigerians were unhappy with the timing, given the ongoing petrol crisis in the country.
He emphasized that public servants should remain in the country rather than traveling to deal with Nigeria’s many problems.
Musa also criticized the President and other senior officials for fleeing the nation at a time marked with crises includin graft, instability, starvation, unemployment, and poverty.
“On Kyari’s tweet, many Nigerians are not happy, especially given the petrol crisis that the country is facing. I think it is important that public officials should always remain at home to face numerous challenges that we face to resolve them,” he said.
Reacting to the issue, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC, Olufemi Soneye stated that the country’s supply of gasoline products will not be impacted by the CEO of the company’s absence.
“We have EVP (Executive Vice President) Downstream who oversees these areas, and we have consistently informed Nigerians about the cause of the supply tightness, which has nothing to do with the GCEO, whether he is here or abroad. The situation is being addressed, and we have capable hands managing it effectively,”Soneye said.
