Tag: coalition of civil society organisations

The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria and the Nigerian Interfaith Forum on Friday demanded that the Federal Government strengthens the Petroleum Industrial Act to give room for the growth of local refineries.

The CSOs also declared support for Dangote Refineries and Petrochemicals while condemning the demand for subsidies by oil marketers under the aegis of Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN).

Addressing the press in Abuja, the president of COCSON, Ibrahim Suleiman, noted that some of the demands by DAPPMAN will plunge Nigeria back to the days of “subsidy fraud.”

Suleiman also said the demand by DAPPMAN was an economic sabotage disguised as business.

He, however, noted that Nigerians will mobilise and resist any move to return subsidy under any form.

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The text of the press conference was signed by Comrade Suleiman,   President, Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria (COCSON); Mrs. Grace Okonkwo National Secretary, Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria (COCSON); Rev. Dr. Matthew Ayodele, National Chairman, Nigerian Interfaith Forum (NIF) and Imam Musa Abdullahi, National Secretary, Nigerian Interfaith Forum (NIF).

It reads: “Their demand is self-serving, N75 per liter for coastal freight and operation cost, translating to N1.5 trillion, is nothing but greed. Dangote refinery has exported over 3.2M metric tonnes of refined products in three months, proving its capacity. Meanwhile, DAPPMAN imported 3.6m metric tonnes, promoting dumping and sabotaging Nigeria’s economy.

“We demand that the Federal Government and National Assembly strengthen the Petroleum Industrial Act to prioritise and protect local refineries over importation cartels, empower anti-monopoly laws to dismantle cartels that prey on Nigerians.

“We call on Nigerians to boycott any marketer or depot that aligns with DAPPMAN’s exploitative scheme.

“We will publish periodic watch lists of companies and individuals found sabotaging local refining and fueling hardship, so Nigerians know their true enemies.

“We urge the Federal Government to stand firm, Nigerians to stand united, and Dangote Refinery to stand strong. Together, we will ensure that no group, no cartel, and no vested interest will derail Nigeria’s refining revolution.”

A coalition of civil society organisations has called for a whistleblower protection law as well as a legal framework for tracking constituency projects.

The coalition also emphasised increased support for upscaling asset recovery, effective implementation of audit laws, and the need to curb gender-based violence.

The CSOs made the demand during the presentation of a study report titled “Fortifying Policy Influence of Civic Actors in Nigeria: The Case of On Nigeria Program.”

The event, which was organised by Joinbodi Cohort grantees of the On Nigeria Program supported by the MacArthur Foundation, provided a platform for stakeholders to assess policy changes influenced over the last eight years of implementing grant projects in Nigeria.

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Members of the Joinbodi Cohort include Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI); Women’s Rights Advancement & Protection Alternative (WRAPA); Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation; Agora Policy Foundation; Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC); Policy & Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC); Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI); BudgIT Foundation; African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD); Centre for Information Technology & Development (CITAD); Civil Society Legislative & Advocacy Centre (CISLAC); United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC); Connected Development Initiative (CODE); Community Life Project (CLP) and HEDA Resource Centre.

Others are: Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP); Social Action; Arewa Research & Development Project (ARDP); Neem Foundation; Joy Incredible Limited; Initiative for Research, Innovation, and Advocacy in Development; Brookings Institution’s Africa Growth Initiative; Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED); African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL); American University – School of International Service; Transparency and Accountability Initiative.