Members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), under the banner of the APC Youth Solidarity Network, have called for the removal of Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL). The demand comes in the wake of revelations that the state-owned oil company is burdened with a $6.8 billion debt.
The call for Kyari’s ouster was made during a press conference in Abuja on Monday, where Olalekan Isaac, President of the APC Youth Solidarity Network, criticized Kyari’s leadership, describing it as fraught with “leadership failure.” Isaac also voiced concerns over the lack of transparency within the NNPCL, particularly in light of the company’s initial denial of the debt.
These concerns were said by statements from NNPCL spokesperson Olufemi Soneye, who on Sunday admitted that the company is struggling under the weight of fuel supply costs. Soneye confirmed reports that the ongoing fuel scarcity across Nigeria is directly linked to the $6.8 billion debt owed by NNPCL to international oil suppliers.
“We, the APC Youth Solidarity Network, resolutely maintain that the time has arrived for Mr Mele Kyari to assume full responsibility for this leadership failure. It is imperative that he relinquish his position, thereby sparing our nation further international embarrassment and ridicule,” he said.
“It means the entire hogwash that the company is doing under Kyari is a big lie and should be condemned by all citizens.”
“Mr Kyari’s protracted occupation of office has devolved into an unrelenting source of embarrassment, tarnishing the reputation of our esteemed party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Nigerian people,” he added.
