A civil society organisation (CSO), Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative (EUYI), has protested the purported shutdown of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL)-owned refineries in the country.
It accused the NNPC of planning to write off the refineries as scrap and sell them to some unpatriotic Nigerians who are already mounting pressure on the authorities to sell them.
At a press conference in Abuja yesterday, the group led by Comrade Danesi Momoh expressed concern that Nigerians have been kept in the dark over the reasons behind the shutdown of refineries.
Therefore, he challenged the group chief operating officer (GCEO), Engr. Bayo Ojulari, to inform Nigerians categorically what happened to the functioning refineries he inherited from his predecessor, Engr. Mele Kyari.
Momoh insisted that so-called technical reviews on the refineries are an orchestrated plan to sell them as scraps to unpatriotic Nigerians who have begun a campaign to have them sold.
“The public would also like to know what the technical reviews entail, the cost and the refineries’ future. We insist that Mr. Bayo Ojulari is trying to deceive Nigerians through his opaqueness in operation, vagueness in communication and blurry presentations,” EUYI alleged.
“Surely, we shall take him to task on this matter, and confront him peacefully to ensure that he does not use techniques to deceive the public, sell our national asset or squander money on them when there is no such need.
“Since it appears that he enjoys being dragged out, we will not hesitate to begin our mass action against him, including occupying the streets in protest, from next week, except the public is given verifiable, clear answers to these questions.”
EUYI warned against attempts to rubbish the efforts of the past leadership of the NNPCL and their achievement in getting the refineries to a functional status against all odds, cynicism and negative campaigns.
