The Energy Justice Forum (EJF), a coalition of energy rights activists, has issued a stern warning to the new leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), urging them not to follow in the footsteps of former GCEO, Mele Kyari. The group criticized Kyari's "dubious, dollar-chasing reforms" and warned the incoming NNPCL Group CEO, Bayo Ojulari, and board chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida, that continuing these policies would be a grave mistake for the corporation and the nation.
In a statement released on Friday, the EJF commended President Bola Tinubu's decision to restore the naira-for-crude policy, a shift that they believe will benefit local refineries and the broader Nigerian populace. The group stressed that this policy was not merely in the interest of the Dangote Refinery but a long-overdue step towards revitalizing local refining capacity and reducing Nigeria's dependency on imported fuel.
Dr. Godknows Manager, the national president of EJF, hailed the policy as “the most patriotic intervention in Nigeria’s petroleum sector in recent history.” He urged the newly appointed NNPCL leadership to align with President Tinubu’s reformist approach. “We must be clear — this policy is not about Dangote alone. It is about returning value to Nigerians, enabling refineries in Warri, Port Harcourt, and Kaduna to thrive, and ensuring that Nigerians are not perpetually held hostage to dollar-denominated fuel pricing,” Manager emphasized.
The EJF leader also lauded President Tinubu for restoring Nigeria's economic sovereignty, calling the move a glimpse of hope for ordinary Nigerians who have long struggled under an import-dependent energy system. He warned that any attempt by the new NNPCL leadership to continue the policies of Kyari, which the EJF claims nearly collapsed the country's economy, would be met with resistance from civil society groups.
“We are watching closely. Nigerians are watching. And we will not hesitate to mobilize civil society resistance if old habits creep back in through the back door,” Manager declared.
The group also called for full transparency in the oil sector, demanding an audit of Kyari's tenure at NNPCL, including contracts, swaps, and questionable transactions under the guise of liberalization. Manager emphasized the need for the new NNPCL leadership to prioritize collaborations with indigenous investors and local engineers to ensure the success of Nigeria’s refining ambitions.
“We cannot build a sustainable energy future on the back of secrecy and elitist policies. This is a new dawn. The new NNPCL must walk in light, not shadows,” Manager concluded.
