By Felix Khanoba
A coalition of civil society organisations and digital media advocates have condemned what they described as a coordinated media campaign against the former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mallam Mele Kyari, over Nigeri’s $2 billion crude-for-loan arrangement.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, the National Mobilisation Officer of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria (COCSON), Comrade Tabuko Kennedy, who addressed journalists on behalf of COCSON and the Bloggers and Vloggers Content Creators Association (BAVCCA), maintained that Kyari was not guilty of any wrongdoing in connection with the deal.
“The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria (COCSON) and the Bloggers and Vloggers Content Creators Association (BAVCCA) reject in its entirety the targeted media attacks and calculated attempt to malign the person and office of the former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Malam Mele Kyari, in relation to the $2 billion crude-for-loan deal,” Kennedy said.
He described Kyari as a “patriotic and honest leader” who prioritized national interest, particularly during the country’s economic turbulence.
“Mele Kyari has done everything a true patriotic and honest leader can do. In a very difficult economic crisis, he stood for the greater good of all Nigerians instead of few cabals. He has been part of the solution to Nigeria’s foreign exchange challenge, a puzzle that nearly crumbled the economy.”
Kennedy emphasised that the crude-for-loan transaction was a sovereign-backed initiative, designed and executed with the collaboration of key federal institutions and international partners.
“Let us be clear: this is not a scandal – it is a structured misrepresentation of a standard commercial transaction that predates this administration and has been carefully supervised under the regulatory and sovereign structures of the Federal Government of Nigeria,” he said.
According to the coalition, the $3.3 billion crude-backed loan secured through Afreximbank was aimed at stabilising the nation’s foreign reserves and shielding the economy from external shocks.
“The $3.3 Billion Crude-Backed Loan Was a Sovereign Deal: This transaction, executed in collaboration with Afreximbank and backed by the Federal Government, was designed to stabilize Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves and provide a buffer against economic shocks not to ‘mortgage Nigeria’s future’ as ignorantly portrayed by politically motivated street protesters hired by ungrateful elements working against the progressive leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
They also clarified that Kyari was not acting unilaterally, stressing that the deal was vetted and endorsed by relevant government bodies.
“Kyari Was Not Acting Alone: Every stage of the crude-for-loan framework was vetted by relevant agencies – including the Ministry of Finance, Debt Management Office, and the Attorney General’s Office. Kyari was executing national policy, not personal ambition.”
On allegations of crude diversion and financial impropriety, the groups insisted that no such evidence exists.
“No Missing Crude, No Diversion of Funds: There is zero evidence of crude diversion, missing shipments, or financial misappropriation. All proceeds and repayment schedule are transparent, documented, and auditable. Anyone who has a valid case should first present a proof of his claims instead of taking Nigerians’ collective sense of judgment for a ride,” Kennedy said.
They praised Kyari’s tenure at the NNPCL, describing him as the most transparent CEO in the organisation’s history.
“Kyari Has Been Nigeria’s Most Transparent NNPC Boss in Decades: Under Kyari’s leadership, NNPCL was transitioned into a commercially-run, limited liability company. For the first time in NNPC’s history, its books are published, audited, and made public. That’s not corruption— that’s reform.”
COCSON and BAVCCA also accused unnamed political actors of sponsoring recent protests against Kyari to derail ongoing reforms in the oil sector.
“The Protest Is Politically Engineered: We have credible information that certain vested interests, threatened by the sanitization of the oil sector, are sponsoring protests and media hysteria to derail reforms in the NNPCL. This is a simple case of when you fight corruption, corruption fights back. These corrupt elements are merely fighting back the Mele Kyari reforms.”
Referencing President Bola Tinubu’s public commendation of Kyari earlier this year, the groups said the former NNPCL chief had left office with his reputation intact.
“On January 8, 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu commended the former NNPCL GCEO, Mallam Mele Kyari, on his 60th birthday, praising his service and integrity. In the President’s words, ‘Kyari is a shining example and embodiment of the ideals of the Renewed Hope Agenda. I commend his commitment to creating new opportunities and ensuring the growth and sustainability of Nigeria’s energy sector.'”
The coalition concluded with a firm message of support for Kyari and a call on President Tinubu to remain focused on reforms.
“We will not sit back and watch a reformer be sacrificed on the altar of politics. We call on our progressive President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remain steadfast and not allow these desperate tactics to distract his government from the broader goal of sanitizing the petroleum sector. If anyone has genuine proof of wrongdoing, let them present it through proper legal channels—not through sponsored headlines and mob protests.”
“ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.We stand with Mele Kyari. We stand for due process. We stand for national interest.”
