- The Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative threatens to mobilize youths to occupy the Minister of State for Petroleum’s office if fuel crisis persists
- EUYI condemns the increase in fuel prices, accusing Minister Heineken Lokpobiri of being disconnected from the realities faced by Nigerians
A rights group, the Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative (EUYI), has warned that it will mobilize Nigerian youths to occupy the office of the Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri, and the NNPC Towers if the current fuel crisis is not resolved urgently.
Speaking at a press conference held in Abuja on Thursday, EUYI’s National Coordinator, Comrade Danesi Momoh, expressed the group’s readiness to rally youths to occupy the minister’s office and the NNPC Towers next Tuesday to press their demands.
The rights group argued that the fuel price hike has left most Nigerians unable to afford basic needs, go out to look for work, or afford transportation costs on salaries that are below the cost of commuting.
The group condemned the increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N855 and above, accusing Lokpobiri of being out of touch with the situation within his ministry and its core sector.
“When NNPC claimed that the Port Harcourt Refinery would start functioning in December 2023, Lokpobiri supported the lie and went further earlier this year to deceive Nigerians by saying the refinery was indeed ready. Therefore, it is understandable why there are no consequences for the failings of NNPC,” Momoh stated.
He further cited Section 3 (1) (a),(b),(c) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which empowers the Minister to formulate, monitor, and administer government policies in the Petroleum Industry, supervise its affairs and operations, and report developments to the government.
“Everyone knows that the day-to-day ministerial functions of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources are exercised by the Ministers of State (Oil) and (Gas). And as far as the oil sector is concerned, Lokpobiri has failed to exercise his power and fulfill his mandate in the country’s interest,” he added.