In a letter addressed to the Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPCL, Mele Kyari, the NCSES had lamented the hardship brought upon Nigerians by the protracted fuel crisis and astronomical hike in the pump price of the Premium Motor Spirit.
The group had issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the NNPCL to answer the questions raised in its letter and end the biting fuel scarcity or face a nationwide showdown, an ultimatum which lapsed on Thursday, February 2, according to a report by Legit.
Members of the group from across the states of the federation were being mobilised to converge on Abuja next week for a showdown, according to Legit.
The letter to the NNPCL, signed by the convener of the group, Mohammed A. Shuaibu, and co-convener, Nwogwugwu Bright, partly read, “The Network of Civil Societies for Economic Sustainability (NCSES) brings you solidarity greetings from its members, affiliates, and partners far and wide and wishes that this letter meets you well. Our Organisation has in its mandates: the promotion of democracy, anti-corruption advocacy, and promotion of national peace and stability.
“Please consider this letter as an effort to promote stability, disabuse wrong perceptions, and restore hope and confidence in Nigerians, particularly the youths who labour in frustration to access petrol for their daily pursuit of a livelihood.
“We have received several letters from affiliate organisations demanding protest and mass action due to the unavailability of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and the outrageous hike in the price. The argument ranges from the inability of NNPC Ltd to make petrol available, diversion of products, racketeering, inability to control the price, and the failure to explain the reasons for the scarcity.
“We appreciate our place in nation-building as society Gatekeepers, and we consider it a patriotic engagement to seek clarifications on the above complaints. Our deliberation and final consultations are ongoing, and we hope that before our final choice of date for action is made, your response would have reached us.
“We also wish to intimate you that Nigerians are suffocating under this problem and we fear that if we decide on any act of peaceful protest rally, it may become too explosive because of bottled-up frustrations. This is the reason we need clarifications and urgent positive action towards addressing the problem. As things stand today, a massive nationwide protest is inevitable in the approaching few days.
“Sir, as we await your timely response which is expected within forty-eight (48) hours, our cooperation and support are assured. Thank you for your understanding.”
