Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — In a bold move, a coalition of civil society organizations, CSOs, have demanded an end to the importation of refined petroleum products, citing the economic hardship faced by Nigerians due to the policy.
In an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, the CSOs urged the President to fully operationalize existing government and private refineries to reduce the cost of fuel and stabilize prices of essential goods.
Executive Director, Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, David Ugolor, on behalf of the 10 CSOs, urged President Tinubu to halt irresponsible borrowing practices and provide transparency and accountability for the use of borrowed funds.
Ugolor also demanded for an equitable and reliable power supply across all regions, as well as the implementation of a comprehensive social protection policies and programmes to address the high rate of poverty in the country.
“Ending the importation of refined petroleum products is a crucial step towards alleviating the economic hardship faced by Nigerians. We urge President Tinubu to take decisive action to operationalize our local refineries and reduce our dependence on imported fuel.”
The CSOs also demanded transparency and accountability in the oil and gas sector, particularly with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL.
“We urge that NNPCL’s dealings be open to public monitoring, with regular publication of updated and detailed information on financial transactions and contracts. This is especially vital following the subsidy removal, which has impacted all Nigerians,” the letter stated.
The move comes as Nigerians continue to grapple with the effects of fuel subsidy removal and currency flotation, which have led to increased prices and exchange rate deterioration, as the CSOs described the situation as “increasingly untenable” for the average Nigerian.
“Prices of essential commodities have surged, and the exchange rate has deteriorated, exacerbating the challenges faced by millions of citizens. Coupled with the ongoing insecurity in many parts of the country, the situation has become increasingly untenable for the people.”
The CSOs also expressed concern over the government’s response to peaceful protests, which they described as “alarming and unacceptable” and demanded for an unconditional release of every detained protesters.
“These citizens should not be criminalized for exercising their democratic rights and law enforcement agencies should respect human rights norms as they enforce the use of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act.
“We condemn the excessive use of force by security agencies, resulting in the tragic deaths of several protesters,” the letter stated.
The CSOs urged President Tinubu to initiate the process to unconditionally release all individuals detained for participating in peaceful protests and establish a credible and non-partisan framework for civic engagement and policy dialogue.
“Your Excellency, Nigeria stands at a crossroads. The actions your administration takes in the coming days will significantly influence the direction our country will take. We believe that with decisive and compassionate leadership, you can restore public confidence and steer Nigeria toward a path of prosperity and justice for all its citizens.”
