A non-government organisation, Nigeria Ethnic Nationality Youth Leaders Council Worldwide has said that it was disgraceful, inconceivable and unacceptable to hear that crude oil will have to be imported into the country from the United States of America for the take-off of the local refineries.

The group in a statement issued by the publicity secretary, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, called for the management of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, NNPCL, to be held responsible for this development and threatened to protest and occupy the streets if, after one week, the leadership of the NNPCL does not resign or sacked by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Last week, the group held a press conference in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, and accused the NNPCL of sabotaging the take-off of local refineries, including the Dangote refinery.

The youth leaders said they would not continue to watch Nigerians face avoidable sufferings owing to the actions of a tiny cabal.

According to them, “We are making this demand in the light of the endless controversy surrounding crude oil supply in Nigeria.

“We cannot continue to boast to be a major oil producer, yet our people are facing acute scarcity of petroleum products daily.

“The delayed take-off of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, as well as the sabotage of the Dangote refinery, is responsible for this hardship Nigerians are facing.”

The group said President Tinubu, who happens to be the minister of petroleum should also order a forensic audit of the NNPCL saying this is necessary as it cannot understand why it has become such a difficult task to meet the OPEC quota, which is always blamed on oil theft.

“It is disgraceful, inconceivable and unacceptable to hear that crude oil will have to be imported into the country from the United States of America for the take-off of the local refineries,” it added.