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Groups condemn sponsored protests, media attacks against ex-NNPCL boss Kyari

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Joel Bisi

Coalition Of Civil Society Organisations In Nigeria (COCSON) and Bloggers and Vloggers, Content Creators Association (BAVCCA) have warned against politically engineered protests against the immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Malam Mele Kyari, who “served the nation faithfully.

In a statement jointly signed by COCSON’s National Mobilisation Officer Comrade Ibrahim Danfulani and BAVCCA’s Spokesperson Efe John Abayomi, the two groups urged President Bola Tinubu to overlook undue distraction from enemies of his administration while rejecting a calculated attempt to malign the person and office Kyari hitherto held concerning the $2 billion crude-for-loan deal.

COCSON and BAVCCA chided agents of mischief and fake news merchants over baseless media attacks on the former NNPCL GCEO while urging anyone with genuine proof of Kyari’s wrongdoing while in office to present it through proper legal channels and not through sponsored headlines and mob protests.

The groups maintained that Kyari has done everything a true patriotic and honest leader can do. In a very difficult economic crisis and Part of the solution to Nigeria’s foreign exchange challenge, a puzzle that nearly crumbled the economy.

The statement read in part:

“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.

“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 a few cabals. He has been Part of the solution to Nigeria’s foreign exchange challenge, a puzzle that nearly crumbled the economy.

“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.

THE TRUTH THEY WON’T TELL YOU:

“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.

“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.

“No Missing Crude, No Diversion of Funds: There is zero evidence of crude diversion, missing shipments, or financial misappropriation. All proceeds and repayment schedules are transparent, documented, and auditable. Anyone who has a valid case should first present proof of his claims instead of taking Nigerians’ collective sense of judgment for a ride.

“Kyari Has Been Nigeria’s Most Transparent NNPC Boss in Decades: Under Kyari’s leadership, NNPC 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.

“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 and force Kyari out.”

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Breakthrough Partnership: Big Win, FMACTCE, Others Unite to Boost Nigeria’s Creative Economy

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The Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy (FMACTCE) has taken a significant step towards strengthening inter-ministerial coordination and advancing data-informed governance through its collaboration with Big Win Philanthropy.

An Inter-Ministerial roundtable, attended by partner ministries in Education, Youth Development , key stakeholders, and Big Win, resulted in an agreement to align efforts and enhance inter-agency collaboration. A key outcome of the meeting was the development and sharing of the D30 Data Platform and Mapping, expected to drive data-led initiatives and deliver measurable results.

Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa re-emphasized her commitment to transforming Nigeria’s creative economy through an 8-point agenda and 14-key initiatives. These initiatives aim to spark a renaissance in the sector, driving economic growth and cultural enrichment.

“I commend BigWin’s collaborative effort in developing this platform, highlighting the data mapping initiative’s crucial role in understanding and promoting growth in the creative economy.

“The Ministry is working on several key initiatives, including the IP Monetization Framework, Strategic Investment Vehicles like CEDF & CTIC, $200 million funding from Afrexim, and partnerships with the French Treasury to establish creative hubs. A stakeholder roundtable and data mapping initiative are also underway to promote growth and development in the sector”, the minister said.

The meeting also highlighted the importance of inter-ministerial collaboration and synergy in driving the creative economy forward. The Minister of State for Education, Dr. Suwaiba Said Ahmad and the Minister of Youth Development Hon. Ayodele Olawande shared their respective initiatives, including STEM education, skill mapping, and youth-centered programs.

The Ministerial Roundtable was preceded by a courtesy visit at the weekend, to Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima. Big Win Philanthropy’s visit led by its President, Jamie Cooper, marked a significant step forward in their collaboration.

The Vice President received an update on the Ministry of Art’s progress, backed by Big Win Philanthropy, focusing on key accomplishments and potential areas for partnership growth. He reaffirmed the administration’s support for Big Win and expressed the government’s commitment to strengthening their collaboration. By tapping into Big Win’s expertise and global network, the government aims to drive meaningful impact and achieve concrete results in the creative economy. The meeting marks a strategic shift towards results-driven governance, with the Ministry of Art leading innovation in Nigeria’s creative sector

The Ministry will convene a stakeholder roundtable in May 2025 to present its national mapping initiative and engage with key stakeholders to drive growth and development in the creative economy. The meeting concluded with a commitment to collaboration, synergy, and impact-driven governance.

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