• Civil Society Bodies Restate position, Back GCEO
By Abiola Olawale
Bashir Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), resumed official duties and attended a high-level meeting at the NNPC Towers in Abuja on Monday, August 4, 2025.
His resumption at the office follows the usual weekend work-free days, Saturdays, and Sundays.
However, Ojulari’s appearance at the office is coming amid intense rumors of his resignation, fueled by unverified reports of alleged coercion by security agencies.
The New Diplomat gathered that Ojulari arrived at the NNPCL headquarters around 9:35 a.m. today, Monday, 4th August, 2025.
It was also gathered that Ojulari immediately proceeded to attend a crucial meeting on strategic engagements critical to Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
This comes following the emergence of reports that Ojulari was allegedly pressured to sign a resignation letter by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS).
However, the Presidency categorically dismissed these claims. A presidential spokesperson, Mr Sunday Dare, said the allegations are “false and rubbish,” affirming that Ojulari remains the substantive head of NNPCL.
Recall also that a coalition of civil society groups, alongside the Coalition of Concerned Stakeholders in the Gas and Petroleum Sector (CCSGP), at the weekend, threw their weight behind Engr. Ojulari, the Group Chief Executive Officer, GCEO of NNPCL.
They restated their position again, affirming that they stand by their publication.
The coalition said since his appointment on April 2, 2025, Ojulari has been spearheading transformative initiatives that align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision and mandate for transparency, accountability, and growth in Nigeria’s energy sector.
However, the coalition revealed that certain individuals who are now feeling threatened by the transparency, openness, monthly report, fruitful outcome, and accountability introduced under Ojulari’s leadership are now spreading lies against the GCEO of the NNPCL.
This was contained in a press statement jointly signed by Comrade Usman Musa Abdullahi (Director of Media), Dr Joseph Olawale (Director of Programs), Mrs T. Haladu-Bako ( Social Works Coordinating Office for Nigeria-CCSGP), and Comrade Ogon Peterside ( Spokesperson of the CCSGP).
The coalition said in the statement: “Never in the history of the NNPC has it remitted such sums as N6.961 trillion as recorded during the short time that Mr Ojulari has been on the saddle, which shows that President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and reforms are consistently on track, and are making positive impacts, and we will not allow fifth columnists within the NNPCL leadership who are agents of dirty politicians who are so used to feeding fat from the NNPCL treasury in the past, to distract the noble vision of the President and the Group CEO of the NNPC.
“Today, the NNPC under Ojulari is patriotically working on several investment inflows, just as he plans to increase oil production to over 2 million barrels per day(mbpd) by year 2027 and steadily to 3 million Barrels per day by 2030.
“In the same vein, we understand, under Ojulari’s astute leadership, the NNPCL plans to reach about 10billion cubic feet per day in Gas production by the year 2027. Under this grand plan, NNPCL will transition into a great global company with respect and admiration across the world.”
