Hundreds of Nigerians took to the streets of Abuja on Monday to protest the ongoing fuel crisis, rising inflation, and what they describe as severe economic mismanagement. Led by prominent activists Abdullahi Bilal of the “Two Million Man March Against Oil Scam Cabal” and Barrister Napoleon Otache and Olayemi Isaac of the Citizens and Economic Freedom Rights Activists in Nigeria (CEFRAN), demonstrators demanded urgent government action to address soaring fuel prices, chronic shortages, and a struggling economy.
The protest highlighted widespread frustration with the government’s handling of the oil sector, as participants condemned the high cost of fuel and persistent shortages that have led to inflationary pressures, driving millions into poverty. “The fuel subsidy regime has only benefited a few while leaving the majority burdened with unbearable prices,” Bilal said, calling for a complete overhaul of the subsidy system and a move toward full deregulation to bring transparency and competition to the sector.
Protesters voiced outrage over the importation of adulterated fuel, a practice they claimed is harming citizens by damaging vehicles and disrupting businesses. They demanded an immediate halt to these imports and accountability from those responsible, questioning why substandard fuel continues to enter Nigeria despite quality control assurances.
The group also criticized unfulfilled promises regarding the Dangote Refinery, which they had hoped would resolve Nigeria’s dependence on imported fuel. They expressed frustration over the billions spent on refinery development, stating that despite these investments, the country remains reliant on costly fuel imports, an irony for an oil-producing nation.
“Nigerians were promised relief through local refining, yet we still suffer from fuel shortages and high prices,” said one protester. Demonstrators pointed to inflation now exceeding 24 percent and a staggering 200 percent rise in fuel prices, attributing these factors to deepening poverty across the country.
In their statements to the press, the protest leaders criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration for failing to alleviate the crisis and called for an immediate change in oil sector leadership. “This government has a duty to prioritize the well-being of citizens over the interests of an elite few,” Bilal said. “We demand the resignation of those who have mismanaged the oil sector. Under their leadership, fuel prices have soared, and Nigerians are forced to queue endlessly for fuel, while substandard fuel floods the market.”
Otache and Isaac further condemned what they termed “economic sabotage,” pointing to the persistent fuel queues and unstable prices. “This crisis has caused unprecedented disruptions in Nigerians’ daily lives,” Otache said. “We demand transparency and accountability from those in charge. How is it that substandard fuel continues to be imported into Nigeria?”
The protesters’ demands include a complete end to fuel queues, immediate accountability for adulterated fuel imports, and the removal of the current subsidy system, which they argue only serves to enrich a select few. The demonstrators also called for sustainable solutions to Nigeria’s fuel scarcity, declaring they would continue their mobilization until tangible reforms are implemented.
As inflation, fuel prices, and economic hardship continue to rise, the protesters vowed to sustain pressure on the government, declaring, “Enough is enough. Nigerians will not tolerate further exploitation by the oil cabal at the expense of the nation’s welfare. We demand reform and accountability now.”
