Group plans mass protest against Mele Kyari over Port Harcourt refinery shutdown

The Civil Society Coalition for Energy Transparency and Development in Nigeria (CSCEDN) has announced plans to mobilize its members for a mass protest against the former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Engineer Mele Kyari, over the recent shutdown of the Port Harcourt Refinery.

In a statement jointly signed by Comrade Musa Ibrahim Gusau and Comrade Henry Rewane, the group said the protests, scheduled to take place on Monday and Tuesday next week, will demand the immediate arrest and prosecution of Kyari for what it described as a “fraudulent overhaul maintenance” conducted on the refinery during his tenure.

Recall that the management of the Port Harcourt Refinery recently announced the temporary closure of its facilities for maintenance.

The group expressed outrage at the shutdown, describing it as clear evidence that Kyari failed to ensure sustainable operations, despite the extensive funds committed to the project.

“This shutdown is happening barely six months after the refinery resumed truck loading of petroleum products—following a $1.5 billion rehabilitation,” the statement noted. “That alone is unacceptable and raises serious questions about the quality of the work done.”

According to the coalition, the information it gathered indicated that the shutdown was triggered by “a combination of inconsistent product quality, poor maintenance cycles, and an overall underwhelming performance of the facility.”

“We will use this protest to call on the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to arrest and prosecute Mele Kyari without delay, and to review all contracts and agreements entered into by the NNPCL under his leadership,” the group declared.

The coalition also criticized the use of the “old plant” at the refinery, which was originally commissioned in 1965 with a processing capacity of 60,000 barrels per day. According to them, the plant has become “a conduit for siphoning public funds under the guise of rehabilitation.”

“After years of inactivity and several failed rehabilitation efforts, the Port Harcourt Refinery resumed operations on November 26, 2024, following a major overhaul that gulped $1.5 billion. Yet, just months later, it has shut down again. This is a national embarrassment,” the group added.

CSCEDN vowed to continue mounting pressure until accountability is served, warning that Nigerians deserve transparency and justice in the management of the country’s energy infrastructure.