Youths under the aegis of the Arewa Youth Congress of Nigeria took to the streets of Jos, Plateau State, on Wednesday and demanded that domestic crude be supplied to Dangote Refinery.

The protesters, who took their protest to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Jos Field Office, refining crude locally by Dangote would boost the nation’s economy.

They carried placards with different inscriptions: “Anybody fighting Dangote Refinery is an enemy of Nigeria; “the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission should ensure NNPC releases the crude oil due to Dangote Refinery and comply with crude supply to Dangote Refinery.’’

Others read “NUPRC must comply with Section 109 of the Petroleum Industry Act; we demand that N1.7 billion worth of feedstock be given to Dangote Refinery,’’ among others.

AYCN Secretary, Naankin Sammani, who led the protesters, said that they were on the streets to express their concern over the plight of Nigerians occasioned by the refusal to supply crude to Dangote Refinery.

He said, “We are here to call the attention of the key players in the oil industry to give the necessary crude supply to Dangote Refinery. Dangote Refinery needs the encouragement of all Nigerians, especially the NUPRC.

“NUPRC must ensure that Dangote Refinery gets sufficient crude to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians. We appeal to President Bola Tinubu to follow up on his directive to supply crude to Dangote in local currency.’’

No official of the NUPRC spoke to the protesters.

(NAN)