The Coalition for Good Governance (CGG) has stated that Nigerians deserve to know the true production cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) per litre from the Dangote refinery to ensure fair pricing, transparency, and accountability.
The coalition, which consists of over 90 civil societies, non-governmental organizations, community-based groups, and public interest organizations, made this call as part of its five-point demand during a press conference held on Tuesday in Lagos.
The spokesperson for the coalition, Comrade Nelson Ekujumi, who is also the Executive Director of the Centre for Social and Economic Rights (CSER), lamented the persistent issue of petroleum scarcity that has plagued successive governments since 1976.
He described this situation as a national shame, given that Nigeria is “blessed as the 15th largest producer of crude oil globally and the largest in Africa.”
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This was just as Ekujumi equally questioned the current logistics strategy for evacuating PMS solely via trucks, which he described as inefficient as well as loaded with risks that further strained the nation’s transportation infrastructure, urging the Federal Government “to implement alternative logistics solutions, such as rail and water transportation to improve efficiency, create jobs and wealth, sustain existing ones and bolster national security.”
“While we celebrate the Dangote Refinery as a monumental achievement, we are concerned by the lack of transparency regarding the refinery’s cost of production of PMS per litre.
“Nigerians deserve to know the true cost of this crucial product to ensure fair pricing, transparency and accountability.
“Additionally, we question the current logistics strategy for evacuating PMS solely via trucks, which is inefficient and risks further straining our transportation infrastructure.
“We urge the government to implement alternative logistics solutions, such as rail and water transportation to improve efficiency, create jobs and wealth, sustain existing ones and bolster national security,” the CCG spokesperson said.
“The scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, is a long standing and regrettable issue that has plagued the tenure of successive governments since 1976.
“It is a national shame that despite our abundant natural resources, particularly crude oil, we continue to grapple with fuel shortages.
“Nigeria is blessed as the 15th largest producer of crude oil globally and the largest in Africa.
“Yet, due to mismanagement, corruption, and sabotage, our daily crude oil production has dwindled.
“From a peak OPEC quota of 2.3 million barrels per day, we now struggle to produce between 1.3-4 million barrels per day, largely due to oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
“However, it is disgraceful that Nigeria, the largest producer of oil and gas in Africa, does not have fully functional refineries.
“But we are encouraged by recent developments, particularly the progress of the Dangote Refinery and the revitalization of our national refineries, which we hope will bring an end to our dependency on imported petroleum products and the drain on our scarce foreign resources,” he added.
Speaking on attack on National Petroleum Company Limited, (NNPCL) under the leadership of Mallam Mele Kyari, Comrade Ekujumi described the move to undermine the organization’s credibility as deeply concerning and sad.
Ekujumi, while deploring the attack, noted that NNPCL has continued to play a critical role in ensuring the continued supply of petroleum products to all parts of the country despite the immense challenges, including the vandalism and sabotage of its pipelines and depots nationwide.
He said it was imperative to note that NNPCL had been forced to bear significant financial burdens, by being the sole importer of fuel into the country due to liquidity crises and foreign exchange challenges.
According to him, this has made other stakeholders abandon the business of the importation of PMS.
He said, “Yet, despite these pressures, NNPCL has remained committed to its mandate of energy security for the country as mandated by the law.”
The CCG spokesperson, however, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for promoting transparency and accountability in NNPCL’s operations by directing that all crude oil and gas transactions were properly documented and the receipt paid into the coffers of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
According to him, “This level of probity is crucial for restoring faith in Nigeria’s oil industry, which has long been accused of corrupt practices.”
Speaking further, Comrade Ekujumi expressed the coalition’s deep concern about invitation for questioning of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero by the Nigeria Police over links to alleged terrorism, cyber crime, subversion, among others.
He said it was worrisome that Joe Ajaero, a key politician whose party and candidate lost the 2023 Presidential Elections, “is still playing politics and abusing his office as the president of the NLC to drag the name of the organization into his personal issue in an attempt to frustrate his being held accountable for alleged acts that threaten our democracy and national security.”
The CCG spokesperson, while noting that the security of life and property of Nigerians was paramount and the reason d’etre of government, however, said NLC must be admonished not to politicize such a grave matter.
“The security of life and property of Nigerians is paramount and the reason d’etre of government, and the NLC must be admonished not to politicize such a grave matter,” Ekujumi said.
“Patriots, in closing, we commend the resilience and perseverance of the Nigerian people during these difficult times of which no one is immune.
“While the challenges we face are significant and can only be surmounted by concerted efforts, we must not lose hope or succumb to fear or incitement to provoke a breach of law and order.
“Instead, let us continue to work together for the peace, progress and prosperity of our nation. Let us remain vigilant against those who seek to destabilize our democracy for personal or political gain,” he added.
The five demands made by the coalition states, “We call on NNPCL to remain focused on its mandate and resist any politically motivated distractions.
“We demand that the Dangote Refinery disclose the actual cost of PMS production per litre at its refinery for the purpose of transparency and accountability.
“We insist that Mr. Joe Ajaero and the NLC refrain from using the Nigerian workers platform to jeopardize national security and instead cooperate fully with the law enforcement agencies and focus on its mandate to ensure a better welfare for Nigerian workers.
“We call on the Nigerian state to reconsider the sustainability of the retention of a central labour centre in the country.
“We urge the Nigeria Police Force not to succumb to the campaign of blackmail and calumny against it, but to remain steadfast and professional in the discharge of its statutory duty to maintain law and order.”
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