‘Igbimo Apapo Yoruba L’Agbaye’ Yoruba Council Worldwide declares national rally, backs Tinubu on ending fuel importation

ABUJA — The Yoruba Council Worldwide (Igbimo Apapo Yoruba L’Agbaye) has thrown its weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to end Nigeria’s reliance on imported petroleum products, describing the nation’s continued dependence on fuel imports as a major threat to energy security and economic stability.

In a joint statement with the Nigeria Coalition Group (NCG) and other allied civil society organisations, signed by the Council’s President, Aare Oladotun Hassan, Esq., the group announced plans to hold a National Day of Solidarity Rally on Wednesday, November 12, in Lagos.

The coalition urged the President to urgently intervene in the ongoing disputes within the oil and gas sector, warning that vested interests and inconsistent policies were undermining the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and frustrating efforts to achieve 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 concern over what it described as ‘malicious narratives’ being spread by influential figures in the petroleum industry, the groups accused such actors of standing in the way of reforms designed to strengthen the sector and secure national progress.

While commending President Tinubu for his commitment to national development, the Yoruba Council warned that the continued issuance of fuel import licences through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) violates Section 317 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and poses serious risks to the country’s energy future.

“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 also proposed a Crude Exploration Nationalisation Policy Synergy Scheme aimed at boosting crude oil supply to domestic refineries, protecting local investors, and generating more employment 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,” they added.

The coalition further called for the imposition of higher trade tariffs, or an outright ban, on imported petroleum products, arguing that such protective measures were essential for sustaining local refining capacity and aligning Nigeria’s policies with those of advanced economies.

Condemning ongoing threats of industrial action in the oil and gas industry, the groups described any attempt to disrupt crude and gas supplies as ‘economic sabotage’ capable of worsening fuel scarcity and destabilising the nation’s economy.

They also commended recent private-sector investments aimed at strengthening local fuel distribution networks and expanding access to petroleum products nationwide, describing the initiatives as patriotic contributions to Nigeria’s drive 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 urged Nigerians to participate in the forthcoming rally in support of President Tinubu’s reform initiatives and to reaffirm national unity.