The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has expressed grave concern over the persistent and unending fuel scarcity across Nigeria, accusing the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) of being a cesspool of corruption, inefficiency, and gross mismanagement. HURIWA also alleged that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been compromised by the bureaucrats within the NNPCL, rendering him unable or unwilling to address the dire situation, which has inflicted immense hardship on Nigerians.

In a scathing press statement issued by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA expressed frustration over the Presidents silence on the matter, accusing the NNPCL of deliberately allowing the fuel crisis to fester for its selfish gains. The association lamented that fuel scarcity, once a rare occurrence, has now become the new norm across the country, with Abuja and other major cities continuously plagued by long fuel queues. Despite the various excuses provided by the NNPCL, the crisis persists, leading to speculations that the company may be benefiting from the situation.

In the past three months alone, the NNPCL has churned out no fewer than five different excuses for the ongoing fuel scarcity, ranging from logistics challenges to supply chain disruptions, HURIWA noted. However, none of these explanations hold water, given that the crisis continues to linger unabated. If the NNPCL were serious about resolving the issue, they would have done so by now.

HURIWA argued that the persistent scarcity is a deliberate act of sabotage, designed to enrich the top echelons of the NNPCL and its board members at the expense of suffering Nigerians. It is clear that the NNPCL is benefiting from this fuel crisis, HURIWA said. Otherwise, they would have resolved it long ago. The inefficiency is self-inflicted and appears to be profitable for the hierarchy of the NNPCL. There is no justification for why this crisis should continue, except for the fact that certain individuals within the company are profiting from it.

The human rights group further pointed to the alleged sabotage of the Dangote Refinery as evidence of an internal conspiracy within the NNPCL. According to HURIWA, the simultaneous occurrence of fuel scarcity and the reported challenges faced by the Dangote Refinery suggest an orchestrated effort to undermine the refinerys operations, further entrenching the NNPCLs monopoly over Nigerias petroleum industry.

HURIWA warned that President Tinubus continued silence on this issue is provoking Nigerians to the point of desperation. The association cautioned that the next wave of protests in the country might be directed at the NNPCL itself, given the growing frustration and anger among the populace. The earlier something is done to resolve this fuel crisis, the better, HURIWA stated. Nigerians are being pushed to the brink, and it may not be long before we witness a protest to end the NNPCL.

The group also lamented the current state of the nation, where Nigerians have been cowed into submission, too fearful to speak out against the injustices they face daily. Nigerians are scared for their lives. They dont want to come out because they fear the security forces will shoot and kill them, HURIWA noted. Its time for Nigerians to make a choice: continue living under this economic slavery or rise and fight for their rights.

In a separate but related matter, HURIWA condemned the systemic subversion of civil protests by security forces, including the National Security Adviser (NSA) and heads of security agencies. The association accused these officials of conspiring to suppress Nigerians constitutional rights to peaceful protest, using a myriad of unsubstantiated excuses to stifle legitimate demonstrations.

HURIWA expressed deep concern over what it described as unconstitutional and undemocratic tendencies being exhibited by the security heads, who are allegedly working in concert with the Tinubu administration to clamp down on the rights of Nigerians to engage in peaceful protests. The association warned that these actions are setting the stage for the collapse of democracy in Nigeria, as the growing discontent and frustration among the populace will eventually reach a boiling point.

The President Tinubu administration must stop this war against human rights, HURIWA declared. Nigerians are getting hungrier, angrier, and dying in increasing numbers. There is a limit to how much Nigerians can tolerate before they react violently. It is in the interest of democracy and constitutionalism for the government to respect the rights of citizens to peaceful protest.

HURIWA also criticized the National Assembly, accusing it of being complicit in the assault on civil rights. The association pointed to recent legislative attempts, such as the controversial bill sponsored by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr. Tajudeen Abbas, which sought to impose harsh penalties for refusing to recite the national anthem, as evidence of the National Assemblys role in undermining democracy.

The bill, which has since been withdrawn, proposed fines of up to N5 million or a 10-year prison sentence for individuals who refuse to recite the national anthem, destroy national symbols, or deface places of worship with the intent to incite violence. HURIWA described the bill as an outrageous attempt to curtail the fundamental rights of Nigerians as enshrined in Chapter 4 of the Nigerian Constitution.

The House of Representatives and the Senate have become chambers for incubating legislations that are targeted at whittling down the exercise of fundamental rights in Nigeria, HURIWA asserted. The recent bill against those who refuse to sing the national anthem shows that the National Assembly has completely become an enemy of democracy.

HURIWA concluded by urging Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue to demand their rights, even in the face of mounting repression. The association emphasized that the protection of civil liberties is essential to the survival of democracy in Nigeria and warned that any further erosion of these rights could lead to catastrophic consequences for the nation.