Nigerians on social media have expressed outrage at Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Ltd, for on Umrah in Saudi Arabia while the country grapples with a severe fuel scarcity.
For nearly two weeks, major cities across Nigeria have faced a crippling shortage of premium motor spirit, commonly known as petrol. This scarcity has led to widespread closures of embarking filling stations, leaving consumers with no choice but to turn to the black market, where petrol prices have soared as high as ₦1,200 per litre in Lagos State. The situation has only deepened the economic challenges in Africa’s largest oil-producing nation.
As Nigerians endure long nights at filling stations, hoping to secure petrol, Kyari, who leads the corporation responsible for the product’s supply, chose to embark on a religious pilgrimage to Madina, Saudi Arabia. His decision has sparked a wave of criticism, with many questioning his priorities during a national crisis.
Kyari shared his pilgrimage experience on his X account, writing, “Met my beloved brother and teacher Mufti Menk while transiting to Madina Munawara (the city of the Rasool) in Addis Ababa. He reminded me of the sufficiency of Allah in all circumstances, that both good and bad are trials from Allah to establish the people of faith. May Allah accept our submission to His will and continue to be faithful to our country and follow our leaders unconditionally.”
The post, however, has garnered thousands of reactions, with Nigerians expressing disappointment and frustration.
“A leadership role was bestowed upon you, but you completely let your people down and failed them, putting them through a lot of stress and frustration. Do you fear Allah? How do you feel inside, and what will you tell Allah when you face Him?” questioned Mohammed Oluwanisola, a user on X.
Another user, Gidado, remarked, “You would likely receive greater rewards for addressing the fuel scarcity in Nigeria than for taking a sightseeing trip to the Holy Land.”
Adebowale Joseph added, “As a leader, it’s essential to prioritize the organization’s pressing issues and demonstrate sensitivity to the current situation, rather than focusing on personal matters.”
Many others echoed similar sentiments, criticizing Kyari for what they see as a lack of empathy and poor timing. “Very wrong timing. People are going through stress and hardship because of the petrol scarcity. The least you could have done is post this picture when everything is easy. Facing Allah when people kept under your care are bereaved?” commented Adebowale Adebambo.
Alli-Balogun Lekan further criticized Kyari’s decision, saying, “You are the head of the agency responsible for supplying fuel to Nigerians. You’re not at the depot or on the streets to tell Nigerians what’s going on; rather, you’re showing us the beautiful airport with your luggage.”
The backlash against Kyari highlights the deep frustration among Nigerians as they struggle with one of the worst fuel shortages in recent memory. Many pointed out that while the NNPC chief is abroad, the Minister of Petroleum is also reportedly in France, leaving the country without leadership during a critical time.
