…Urge Ojulari to Resist Pressure from Monopolistic Interests
The Amalgamated Civil Society Organizations of Nigeria (ACN) vehemently condemns the ongoing smear campaigns targeting the immediate past Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Malam Mele Kolo Kyari. These attacks stem from his principled resistance against monopolistic practices by powerful actors in the oil sector seeking to undermine Nigeria’s economic interests for personal gain.
The Amalgamated civil society organizations of Nigeria (ACN) is a coalition of NGOs advocating for good governance reforms, economic justice, and anti- corruption measures across key sectors, including energy.
In a statement signed by its leadership, ACN reiterated Kyari’s commitment to transparency and competition during his tenure , which reportedly clashed with entrenched monopolistic practices. The group criticized the Oil cabal and unnamed entities for allegedly sponsoring protests and misinformation to destabilize progress in Nigeria’s energy sector.
ACN urged the public and Media to scrutinize narratives targeting public servants advocating for sectoral reforms. The group reaffirmed it’s commitment to supporting policies that promote transparency, competition, and economic equity.
Consequently, the recent protests in Nigeria and abroad, allegedly funded by oil merchants, aim to tarnish Kyari’s legacy and pressure his successor, Mr. Ojulari, into surrendering the sector to vested interests. We urge all patriotic Nigerians to reject these malicious tactics—including blackmail, misinformation, and character assassination and stand firm against forces prioritizing self-enrichment over national progress.
We call for fair competition and transparency in all sectors.
Nigeria’s economy cannot thrive without a level playing field in the oil sector. The current campaigns against Kyari and former NNPCL management reflect a desperate bid to revive monopolistic control, stifle competition, and reverse gains in transparency and efficiency. Under Kyari’s leadership, the NNPCL achieved unprecedented milestones, including refinery revitalization, reduced fuel prices, and international recognition from OPEC, the IMF, and the World Bank. These reforms align with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Buhari administration’s legacy. Accordingly, the CSO said that” the progress achieved under Kyari’s leadership must not be eroded. We call for accountability and fairness to ensure Nigeria’s energy sector thrives” according to the release.
Nevertheless, the threat of economic sabotage is real.
For decades, Nigeria’s oil sector has been plagued by greed, incompetence, and lack of competition. The same actors now orchestrating protests in London and Abuja are responsible for sabotaging refineries, promoting fuel import dependency, and obstructing local productivity. Kyari’s management broke this cycle, delivering functional refineries and operational stability including achievements these groups seek to erase. The statement emphasized that ” Eternal vigilance is needed to safeguard Nigeria’s Oil sector from bad- faith actors. We urge stakeholders to prioritize national interest over personal gain”.
We stand against tyranny,
we warn against tolerating these tactics. The so-called “protests” are nothing but rented crowds deployed to intimidate Kyari’s successor and destabilize the sector. We call on the public and government to; safeguard reforms protecting Nigeria’s refineries and economic sovereignty;
investigate and prosecute individuals behind these smear campaigns;
support ethical leadership resisting pressure from monopolistic cartels.
The ACN reaffirms its commitment to defending Nigeria’s economic interests. Eternal vigilance is the price of preserving the gains made under Kyari’s tenure. We stand with leaders who prioritize national progress over private profiteering.
ACN condemned the use of unsubstantiated allegations, character attacks, and protests in Nigeria and abroad targeting Kyari and his former management team. We condemned all their antics in its entirety and call on Nigerians to open their eyes to the truth for democracy to thrive.
Signed:
Comrade Wale Adegoke
National Coordinator, Amalgamated CSOs of Nigeria (ACN)
Comrade Musa Abdullahi
General Secretary, Amalgamated CSOs of Nigeria (ACN