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The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) is under intense scrutiny as fuel importation costs hit nearly ₦3 trillion between October 1 and November 11.

Despite pledges to rely on local refineries like the Dangote Refinery, Nigeria imported 1.5 million metric tonnes of petrol, 414,018 metric tonnes of diesel, and 13,500 metric tonnes of aviation fuel within this period.

Dr Robinson Onuh, Executive Director of the Energy Reforms Advocates of Nigeria (ERAN), criticised the NNPCL’s leadership, describing recent dismissals of top officials as a mere “face-saving manoeuvre.” Onuh said, “The sacking of a few officials is not enough. Mele Kyari, Farouk Ahmed, and others leading regulatory agencies are the core of the energy sector’s problems.”

NNPCL recently terminated the appointments of Umar Ajiya, Chief Financial Officer, and Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, Executive Vice President (Upstream), citing improved corporate governance.

However, Onuh accused NNPCL of dishonouring its commitments, stating, “Kyari has made a U-turn on his pledge, demonstrating a lack of integrity.”

The activist highlighted the dire state of government-owned refineries, including those in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna.

“These facilities remain in comatose despite trillions injected into them, forcing Nigerians to endure adulterated fuel,” he added.

In response, NNPCL spokesperson Olufemi Soneye refuted claims of a broken promise, clarifying that Mele Kyari’s commitment was to prioritise local refining rather than completely halting imports.

ERAN urged immediate reforms to revive the country’s ailing refineries, warning that continued mismanagement could deepen Nigeria’s economic challenges.

“The government must prioritise transparency and decisive action to end this cycle of inefficiency,” Onuh said.

The call for accountability comes as Nigerians grapple with high fuel costs and limited access to quality products.