Port Harcourt — The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has expressed deep concerns over the ongoing fuel crisis in Nigeria, squarely blaming the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, for what it describes as his “lack of capacity and complete ineffectiveness” in managing the nation’s oil sector.
In a strongly worded statement issued in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the IYC criticized Lokpobiri for the continued mismanagement of the oil industry by agencies under his ministry, which they claim has resulted in widespread suffering across the country, particularly in the Niger Delta region. The council highlighted that petrol prices have surged to over N2,000 per liter in some communities within the region, exacerbating the hardship experienced by the people.
The IYC’s statement was in reaction to the recent announcement by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) regarding the new September 2024 resumption date for the Port Harcourt Refinery. The council expressed skepticism about the feasibility of this date, insisting that the delays and inefficiencies under Lokpobiri’s watch demonstrate that “nothing good can come out of the oil sector” as long as he remains in office.
The statement was signed by key IYC officials, including Maobuye Nangi Obu, Secretary General; Comrade Miracle Iyaye, National Women Leader; Barrister Tamunotonye David Altraide, National Legal Adviser; and Comrade Abiye Bob-Manuel, National Deputy Director of Mobilization.
The IYC officials questioned Lokpobiri’s competence, arguing that his track record of inaction raises serious doubts about his ability to spearhead the necessary reforms to stabilize the oil sector and ensure the availability of affordable petroleum products for Nigerians.
“Nigerians are suffering, especially those in rural areas like far-flung communities in the Niger Delta, because of the cost of petrol,” the statement read. “Keeping Lokpobiri as Minister will only worsen the hardship being experienced.”
The council urged President Bola Tinubu to urgently reshuffle his cabinet and assign Lokpobiri to a different ministry where “he can hide his incompetence,” warning that his continued tenure as Minister of Petroleum Resources could derail the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda for the sector.
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“There are more competent individuals, even from Bayelsa, who could do a better job than him,” the IYC asserted. “The man clearly does not understand the workings of that office. We have not seen any tangible results since his appointment. The economy of Nigeria depends heavily on the stability and efficiency of our oil sector, but we are witnessing the manifestation of incompetence.”
The IYC’s call for Lokpobiri’s replacement reflects growing frustration among stakeholders in the oil-rich Niger Delta, who have long been agitating for better management of the country’s petroleum resources to improve the standard of living in the region.
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