A coalition of civil society (CSO) groups and interreligious leaders has strongly criticized the Nigeria deposit and oil product association (Dappman) about what it described as an attempt to “reintroduce the fuel subsidy through the rear door” when demanding an annual payment of ₦ 1,505 trillions.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, the coalition of civil society organizations in Nigeria (Cocson) and the Nigerian Interreligious Forum (NIF) jointly condemned the proposal, warning that such demand could derail the continuous economic reforms of the federal government and worsen the difficulties they already face by the Nigerians.
When reading the statement on behalf of the groups, the president of Cocon, Comrade Ibrahim Suleiman, together with the National Secretary of Cocon, Mrs. Grace Okonkwo, and the NIF leaders, Rev. Dr. Matthew Ayodele and Imam Musa Abdullahi, described the application ₦ 1.5 of billion as “unjustifiable and detail to national development.”
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According to them, approveing ​​a financial burden would divert the critical funds necessary for medical care, education, infrastructure and poverty relief. Suleiman said that the groups were deeply concerned that millions of Nigerians are currently dealing with inflation, hunger and unemployment, adding that government resources should be channeled towards the relief of these challenges instead of subsidizing inefficiencies in the oil marketing sector.
“Millions of families are already struggling to survive, and parents skip foods to feed their children and many young people who lose hope as the cost of living rises,” he said. “It would be unfair and economically dangerous to impose an additional load of 1.5 billion 1.5 billion for people just to satisfy the interests of some.”
The coalition also accused Dappman of undermining local refining efforts by favoring importation about national production. They cited the example of the Dangote refinery, which, according to the groups, has demonstrated the capacity to export more than 3.2 million metric tons of refined products in just three months.
Reverend Dr. Ayodele said that while Dangote Refinery was producing locally, according to reports, Dappman imported 3.6 million metric tons of oil derived products in the same period. He said that this practice was counterproductive and represented a serious threat to the success of the Nigeria refining sector.
“When Dangote’s refinery was completed, according to reports, it had more than 500 million liters of products ready for the market,” said Ayodele. “However, instead of supporting this monumental national asset, some players in the industry chose to frustrate their operations through continuous import.”
The groups also stressed that the Dangote group had to invest a lot in the transport of their products due to the lack of support from sellers and transporters. “Given the challenges of the key market actors, the company was forced to buy thousands of trucks to ensure that its products will reach the Nigerians,” added Imam Abdullahi.
The coalition emphasized that the problem was not only about Dangote’s refinery, but of the broader economic future of Nigeria. They warned that entertaining Dappman’s demand could undo the progress made by the federal government from the elimination of fuel subsidy, a policy widely seen as a bold step towards economic stability.
Mrs. Okonkwo explained that her position was driven by the need to protect Nigerians and the economy from exploitation practices. He urged the government to take decisive measures to safeguard local refining and avoid the appearance of posters that could keep the country to the rescue.
“We call on the federal government to remain firm and make sure that policies under the oil industry law are completely implemented to promote national refining and reduce import dependence,” he said. “It’s about building a self -sufficient energy sector that benefits everyone, not just some powerful interests.”
The coalition also announced plans to follow legal and civic actions to resist what it called a threat to national interest. Although he did not disclose all the details, Suleiman revealed that the groups would explore the choice of litigation and participate in peaceful defense campaigns to increase public awareness on the subject.
Concluding the press conference, Reverend Ayodele reaffirmed the commitment of the coalition of working with the government and other interested parties to build a sustainable oil sector. “This is not just a fight for a refinery or a company,” he said. “It is a struggle for the future of Nigeria, for economic independence and for the well -being of each citizen.”
The joint statement was signed by Comrade Ibrahim Suleiman and Mrs. Grace Okonkwo for Cocon, and by Reverend Dr. Matthew Ayodele and Imam Musa Abdullahi for NIF.
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