The Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has called for the Group Chief Executive Officer, National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Kolo Mele Kyari, to step aside to allow for an unfettered probe by the House of Representatives into the alleged payment of N20 billion to a ghost consultant.
The group accused the NNPC of manipulating the fuel subsidy regime, as seen during the acute fuel scarcity that lasted over six months.
A statement issued by Comrade Isa Abubakar, the President of the group, said, “During the dark period, Nigerians were buying fuel at about 400 Naira per litre, while the Federal Government spending on Subsidy was skyrocketing, we are therefore urging the House of Representatives to probe the NNPC beyond the 20 billion naira contract scam.”
The statement also threatened a massive civil protest if Kyari refused to step aside.
The group also urged other civil society organizations to join them in the struggle to hold the NNPC accountable for its actions, saying that the Northern youths believed that a thorough investigation into the payment is necessary to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
It called on the House of Representatives to take urgent action and investigate the NNPC thoroughly, stressing that the youths believed that the outcome of the investigation would help to restore the confidence of Nigerians in the oil and gas industry and the government as a whole.
It said the youths were committed to ensuring that the NNPC is held accountable for its actions, pointing out that the management of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry is transparent and accountable.
The group believed that the future of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry depends on the actions taken by the government and the NNPC to address the issues raised by the alleged payment of the N20 billion.