The Yoruba Council Worldwide (Igbimo Apapo Yoruba L’Agbaye) has declared its full support for President Bola Tinubu’s push to end Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products, describing the country’s reliance on fuel imports as a serious threat to its energy security and economic stability.
In a joint statement issued alongside the Nigeria Coalition Group and several allied civil society organisations, the Council’s President, Aare Oladotun Hassan, Esq., announced plans for a National Day of Solidarity Rally scheduled to take place on Wednesday, November 12, in Lagos.
The coalition appealed to President Tinubu to urgently resolve disputes in the oil and gas sector, cautioning that vested interests and inconsistent policies were sabotaging the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and hindering efforts toward energy self-sufficiency.
“We strongly call for the immediate suspension of the issuance of petroleum importation licences, noting that certain oil interests are working assiduously to sabotage local refining and undermine Nigeria’s energy independence,” Hassan said.
Expressing an alarm over what it termed “malicious narratives” propagated by influential figures in the petroleum industry, the coalition accused such actors of opposing critical reforms aimed at strengthening the sector and advancing national progress.
While acknowledging President Tinubu’s commitment to development, the Yoruba Council warned that the continued issuance of fuel import licences through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited breaches Section 317 of the Petroleum Industry Act and threatens the nation’s long-term energy stability.
“We urge President Tinubu to order a comprehensive forensic investigation into the activities and finances of oil unions, multinationals, and regulatory agencies, with particular focus on uncovering acts of sabotage, financial improprieties, and regulatory collusion,” the coalition demanded.
The Council further proposed the introduction of a Crude Exploration Nationalisation Policy Synergy Scheme to boost crude supply to domestic refineries, protect local investors, and create more job opportunities for Nigerian youths.
“We propose that the President initiate a scheme aimed at increasing crude supply to local refineries by at least 100 percent, to ensure steady operations and promote energy sufficiency,” the statement added.
The coalition also urged the government to impose higher trade tariffs or consider an outright ban on imported petroleum products, arguing that such measures were vital for sustaining domestic refining capacity and aligning Nigeria’s policies with global best practices.
Condemning ongoing threats of industrial action within the oil and gas industry, the groups labelled any attempt to disrupt crude and gas supplies as “economic sabotage” that could intensify fuel scarcity and destabilise the economy.
They also lauded private-sector investments geared toward improving local fuel distribution and expanding access to petroleum products nationwide, describing them as patriotic contributions to the nation’s quest for energy independence.
“We are aware of multiple attempts by vested interests to frustrate ongoing efforts to stabilise the sector, hence our call for due investigation by relevant security and financial intelligence agencies,” the Yoruba Council noted.
The coalition concluded by urging Nigerians to participate actively in the upcoming rally to demonstrate solidarity with President Tinubu’s reform agenda and reaffirm their commitment to national unity.
