MURIC Slams Crude Oil Rationing, Urges Tinubu to Act
A civil rights group, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has strongly criticised the reported rationing of crude oil to local refineries, describing the policy as “ridiculous” amid rising fuel prices across Nigeria.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, and signed by its Executive Director, Ishaq Akintola, the group lamented the economic burden on Nigerians, noting that petrol prices have surged to as high as N1,400 per litre compared to about N820 before the escalation of tensions in the Middle East.
Akintola questioned the rationale behind high fuel costs in an oil-rich nation, saying, “The question is why should fuel cost so much in Nigeria even if there is war in far away Iran when we have crude oil and functional refineries?” He revealed that MURIC’s findings pointed to a “paradoxical and totally baffling scenario” where local refineries are allegedly being starved of crude oil supply.
Citing figures, the group stated that the Dangote Refinery, which requires about 19.77 million barrels of crude monthly, has been receiving significantly lower allocations in recent months. “The same crude oil which Nigeria has in excess is being rationed to our local refineries. This is ridiculous and unacceptable,” Akintola declared.
He further criticised what he described as an inexplicable system, arguing that adequate supply to local refineries would naturally reduce fuel prices. Drawing a literary analogy, Akintola said, “Samuel Taylor Coleridge may have visualised the Nigerian petroleum architecture when he wrote… ‘Water, water everywhere but not any drop to drink.’”
The MURIC leader also raised concerns over possible structural issues in Nigeria’s oil sector, questioning whether crude oil had been pre-sold by previous administrations. He added that local refineries, including Dangote, are now forced to source crude through international middlemen at higher costs, a development he warned could lead to increased export of refined products instead of domestic supply.
Calling for urgent government intervention, MURIC appealed directly to Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take decisive action. “MURIC therefore appeals to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to give marching orders to NMDPRA to supply all the crude oil needs of local refineries,” Akintola said, warning against a return to heavy fuel importation despite Nigeria’s refining capacity.
The group concluded by urging authorities to prioritise domestic energy security, insisting that Nigerians should not suffer high fuel costs while the country remains Africa’s largest oil producer.
