Protesters Demand UAE Deport Mele Kyari Over Alleged NNPCL

Hundreds of young Nigerian professionals protested outside the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Embassy in Abuja on Wednesday, demanding the deportation of Mele Kyari, former Group CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). The protesters accused Kyari of widespread corruption during his tenure and urged the UAE to deny him residency or asylum.

Organized by the Young Professionals Forum (YPF), the group claimed Kyari’s actions—including obstructing local refining efforts and enriching himself at the expense of national interest—crippled Nigeria’s economy and energy sector. They also linked his tenure to increased fuel adulteration and declining foreign reserves.

Speaking for the group, Barrister Sambari Benjamin emphasized that shielding Kyari would undermine Nigeria’s judicial process and signal that elites can escape accountability. He urged the UAE to uphold international justice and blacklist Kyari to prevent him from evading prosecution.