By Emmanuel Ogbodo<\/p>\n
As Nigeria battles a protracted fuel scarcity crisis, public frustration has reached a boiling point, with many Nigerians demanding the immediate removal of Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). The scarcity of premium motor spirits (PMS) has led to severe disruptions in transportation, surging costs of goods, and worsening economic hardship for citizens across the country. Opinions gathered from the streets by Abuja City Journa<\/em>l reveal a mix of anger, disappointment, and calls for accountability, as Nigerians grapple with the government’s handling of the situation.<\/p>\n Lack of Political Will and the Refineries Issue<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n One of the most prominent concerns raised by citizens is the apparent lack of political will to address the underlying problems. A respondent lamented that despite Nigeria\u2019s vast natural resources, none of the country\u2019s refineries are operational. \u201cWe have what it takes to be one of the superpowers. And I’m shocked and surprised that up till now, none of the refineries are working,\u201d the respondent told Abuja City Journal<\/em>.<\/p>\n The reliance on the Dangote refinery, expected to ease the supply of fuel in the near future, was also met with scepticism. The respondent emphasised that the country should not depend solely on this private initiative, urging the government to fix all state-owned refineries. He further argued that without multiple refineries working, the fuel crisis would persist.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is no political will,\u201d he reiterated, calling for a shake-up in the NNPC\u2019s leadership if they fail to deliver results. He also linked the fuel scarcity to the devaluation of the Naira, asserting that the lack of local production and high importation costs have worsened the country\u2019s economic woes.<\/p>\n The Burden of High Transportation Costs<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The fuel scarcity has hit Nigerians particularly hard in the transportation sector. Another respondent detailed how transportation costs have skyrocketed, noting that a trip from Galadima to Maraba that previously cost 700 Naira now costs 1500 Naira. The sharp rise in transport fares is making it increasingly difficult for average Nigerians to commute, leading to a domino effect on food prices and general living expenses.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are just working for the person that owns the company for free,\u201d lamented one individual, highlighting how low wages combined with high costs of living have left many Nigerians unable to make ends meet. This sentiment was echoed by others, who described how they are struggling to feed their families and maintain basic necessities.<\/p>\n Mixed Reactions to Calls for Kyari\u2019s Removal<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Public opinion on whether Mele Kyari should be sacked is divided. Some argue that Kyari has failed to deliver tangible results, making his removal necessary. \u201cLet another person experience that position and see how he can change things for the good of Nigerians,\u201d one respondent suggested, reflecting a sense of impatience and frustration with the current management of NNPC.<\/p>\n Another respondent criticised the steep rise in fuel prices under Kyari’s leadership. \u201cWe are thinking that after [protests], things will get better. I think it\u2019s getting worse,\u201d he said. He highlighted how prices had jumped from N350 to as much as N1500 per litre in some places, including the black market. This escalation has left many Nigerians unable to afford fuel, further compounding their daily struggles.<\/p>\n On the other hand, a few respondents were cautious about the idea of sacking Kyari. One respondent urged the government to conduct a thorough review before making any drastic decisions. \u201cThe next person that is coming, you don\u2019t know what he has in his own sleeve to present,\u201d he said, emphasising the need for a more balanced approach to finding a solution to the crisis.<\/p>\n Widespread Economic Hardship<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The economic consequences of the fuel scarcity extend beyond transportation. Respondents expressed concerns over rising food prices, with many now finding it difficult to afford basic groceries. One transporter detailed how fares for trips that used to cost N300 have quadrupled to N1200, leaving citizens in a precarious financial situation.<\/p>\n \u201cYour salary is finished before the first or second week,\u201d another individual said, reflecting the harsh reality faced by many Nigerians living paycheck to paycheck. The worsening economic situation has prompted widespread calls for the federal government, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in particular, to take swift and decisive action.<\/p>\n Hope for a Resolution<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Despite the overwhelming frustrations, some Nigerians expressed hope that the situation would be resolved soon. \u201cWith the news of Dangote PMS coming into the market very soon, I believe that should be able to ease the situation,\u201d said one optimistic respondent. He speculated that the upcoming negotiation between Dangote Refinery and NNPC could provide some much-needed relief in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n However, others remain sceptical about any immediate resolution, with one respondent stating that the president must intervene directly to reduce the suffering of Nigerians.<\/p>\n The ongoing fuel scarcity crisis in Nigeria has exposed deep-seated frustrations and a lack of confidence in the NNPC\u2019s leadership. While opinions are divided on whether Mele Kyari should be sacked, the consensus is that immediate action is needed to address the fuel supply challenges and alleviate the economic burden on Nigerians. The federal government faces increasing pressure to resolve the crisis and restore stability to the nation\u2019s energy sector. As fuel prices continue to rise and transportation costs soar, the call for change grows louder.<\/p>\n Watch the full video here: https:\/\/youtu.be\/pvnM9kmUbW0?si=jBbc_Bgd_UJ2JefI<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Emmanuel Ogbodo As Nigeria battles a protracted fuel scarcity crisis, public frustration has reached a boiling point, with many Nigerians demanding the immediate removal of Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). The scarcity of premium motor spirits (PMS) has led to severe disruptions in transportation, surging costs […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8346,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[177],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-47775","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-abuja-reports"],"aioseo_notices":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47775","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47775"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47775\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47777,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47775\/revisions\/47777"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8346"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47775"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47775"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47775"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}