By Olasunkanmi Akoni

The Coalition for Good Governance, CGG, has expressed concerned over what it termed lack of transparency regarding the Dangote refinery’s cost of production of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS per litre, saying Nigerians deserve to know the true cost inorder to ensure fair pricing, transparency and accountability.

The groups however, made a Five Point demand bothering on state of the nation, particularly on security and fuel pump prices.

CGG, is an assemblage of over 90 civil societies, non-governmental organizations, community based and public interest groups with focus on promoting good governance and accountability in the country’s body polity.

The spokesperson of the group, the Executive Director, Centre for Social and Economic Rights, Nelson Ekujumi, made the remarks during a media briefing on State of the Nation, held on Tuesday.

According to Nelson; “We are concerned by the arrest of the NLC President Joe Ajaero by the DSS. We stand united today, as the Coalition for Good Governance, to raise alarm over these threats and call on all well-meaning Nigerians to remain vigilant.

“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.

“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,” Ekujumi stated.

Speaking on attack on National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, the coalition stated; “We wish to address recent smear campaigns against NNPCL and its leadership under the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mallam Mele Kyari.

“This orchestrated effort to undermine NNPCL’s credibility is deeply concerning and sad.

“Despite the immense challenges, including the vandalism and sabotage of its pipelines and depots nationwide, NNPCL has continued to play a critical role in ensuring the continued supply of petroleum products to all parts of the country.

“It is important to note that NNPCL has 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 which made other stakeholders to abandon the business of the importation of PMS.

“Yet, despite these pressures, NNPCL has remained committed to its mandate of energy security for the country as mandated by the law.

“We must commend President Bola Tinubu’s administration for promoting transparency and accountability in NNPCL operations by directing that all crude oil and gas transactions are properly documented and the receipt paid into the coffers of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“This level of probity is crucial for restoring faith in Nigeria’s oil industry, which has long been accused of corrupt practices.”

Plots against democracy

“In recent times, we have observed troubling developments that threaten the fabric of our democracy and national security.

“We stand united today, as the Coalition for Good Governance, to raise alarm over these threats and call on all well-meaning Nigerians to remain vigilant.

“We urge Nigerians to resist these divisive tactics and remain steadfast in defending our democracy.”

Also, speaking on Ajaero’s arrest, CGG expressed deep concern regarding his invitation for questioning by the Nigeria Police Force for suspected links to alledged terrorism, cyber crime, subversion, criminal conspiracy, treasonable felony and the fleeing Briton who is a tenant of the NLC headquarters building in Abuja and has been declared wanted for the alledged crime of treasonable felony of instigating and financing plots to unseat a legitimately elected democratic government by means other than through the ballot box as prescribed by law.

“However, it is not lost on us that Mr. 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 alledged acts that threaten our democracy and national security.

“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.

The groups therefore made the following demands; “Call on NNPCL to remain focused on its mandate and resist any politically motivated distractions.

“That the Dangote Refinery disclose the actual cost of PMS production per litre at its refinery for the purpose of transparency and accountability.

“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.

“Call on the Nigerian state to reconsider the sustainability of the retention of a central labour centre in the country.

“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.”