The Energy Reforms Advocates (ERA) have praised President Bola Tinubu for his decision to remove Mele Kyari as the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.

In a statement on Wednesday, Abdulkadri Isah, president of ERA, described the move as a courageous step toward reforming Nigerias oil sector and tackling entrenched corruption.

READ MORE: Tinubu sacks NNPC board, GCEO Mele Kyari

He said Kyaris removal would allow a full investigation into alleged fraudulent refinery projects under former President Muhammadu Buharis administration.

The dismissal of Mele Kyari signals a new dawn in our nations commitment to eradicating corruption in the oil and gas sector. We commend President Tinubu for demonstrating the political will to confront these challenges head-on, Isah said.

He urged the newly appointed leadership of the NNPC to prioritise an audit of past projects and ensure accountability in the sector.

READ MORE: FG urges oil giants to ramp up investments in Nigeria’s oil sector

The probe into fake refinery projects must be swift and thorough. Nigerians deserve to know how billions of dollars were allocated to non-existent or uncompleted projects while the country continued to rely on fuel imports, he stated.

ERA called on relevant anti-corruption agencies to support the process, warning that failure to expose past mismanagement would hinder any meaningful reform.

This investigation should not end with a change in leadership. There must be consequences for those who mismanaged funds and deceived Nigerians. The government must set a precedent that corruption will no longer be tolerated, Isah added.

READ MORE: Tinubu appoints Bayo Ojulari as NNPC GCEO

The group also expressed optimism that under fresh leadership, the NNPC could regain public trust and reposition itself as a driver of economic growth.

With competent leadership, the NNPC can finally fulfill its mandate. We expect reforms that will boost local refining capacity, attract investment, and ultimately reduce Nigerias dependence on imported petroleum products, the statement read.

Kyaris removal was part of a broader shake-up of NNPCs board, with former Shell executive Bayo Ojulari appointed as the new GCEO and Ahmadu Musa Kida as non-executive chairman.

The restructuring aligns with the governments vision of revitalising the oil sector and increasing Nigerias crude oil production and refining capacity.

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