Groups Defend Mele Kyari, Reject Planned Protest To Occupy NNPC Towers

Prominent Youth leaders across Nigeria under the auspices “Network on Promotion of Oil and Gas Sector” have reacted to the recent threats by some groups to occupy the NNPC Towers.

The Youth leaders had an emergency meeting in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja where they deliberated on the issue.

The Network of Youth leaders was led by the Integrity Youth Alliance Board of Trustees Chairman, Adewole Kehinde; United Young Professionals Publicity Secretary, Maryann Adegbenga and National Center for Youth Development, Danjuma Lamido.

According to the Youth leaders, those who issued the threats are not known to them, while calling on the security agencies to deal with such persons.

In a joint statement sent to our reporters, after its emergency meeting in Abuja, FCT, the groups described the threat of mass action protest plan to occupy the NNPC towers in Abuja as “Misplaced, outrageous, myopic, diminishing, and a decision that could incite violence in the Federal Capital Territory if not properly handled.

“We call on such vicious groups to desist and retrace their footsteps from the proposed plan to protest and block the NNPC towers gate in Abuja.

“We believe the protest is sponsored and targeted to blackmail and rubbish the good image of the NNPC Limited GMD/CEO, Engr. Mele Kyari and calling for his resignation is aimed at maligning the GMD in bad light before the general public and the presidency.

“We call on the law enforcement agencies, the Inspector General of Police, the Director-General of Directorate of State Security Services DSS and security agencies to take note and put drastic measures not to allow such nefarious and illegal activities to take place in the capital territory of Abuja.

“We urge the security agencies to be on red alert and on our side law-abiding groups who are core believers in support of President Muhammadu Buhari and also in support of the good job the NNPC GMD/CEO is doing to transform the nation’s oil sector.

The coalition also commended the GMD NNPC Engr. Mele Kyari for mopping up the adulterated fuel on time, naming the companies involved, apologizing to Nigerians, and ensuring adequate Petroleum Motor Spirit also known as Petrol is in circulation.

Our reporters had earlier reported that the Nigeria First, Concerned Nigerians, and the Coalition of Concerned Northern Forum announced that it is mobilizing its members to occupy the NNPC headquarters in Abuja within the next 48 hours.

According to the groups, they will act if the NNPC fails to sanction the importers of “contaminated fuel” into the country; over the persistent fuel scarcity in the country and grossly failed to immediately address the lapses that have caused unquantifiable damage to Nigerians.