Groups alert Tinubu of alleged sabotage plot in NNPCL, defend Ojulari’s reforms

Two prominent civil society groups have cautioned President Bola Tinubu about an alleged plot by some insiders to undermine the reforms currently underway at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

The Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiatives (CGGCI) and the Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA) urged the Federal Government to remain alert to efforts aimed at discrediting the NNPCL leadership and reversing its progress.

Speaking at a joint press briefing in Abuja on Friday, CGGCI National Coordinator, Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi, and HURIWA President, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, expressed concern over recent media attacks and protests targeting the NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Bayo Ojulari.

“We respectfully urge His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to remain vigilant and discerning regarding the motives of those peddling unfounded allegations and character assassinations against the GMD. These blackmailers seek to reverse the progress made and reinstall individuals who will continue the cycles of corruption that Mr. Ojulari is dismantling.

“The President’s choice of Mr. Bayo Ojulari was based on proven competence, credibility, and industry expertise. We must not allow deceptive lobbying to taint the integrity of that decision or disrupt the much-needed reforms currently taking root, as Mr Bayo Ojulari is clearly committed to Mr President Renewed Hope Agenda.”

The groups alleged that entrenched interests within the oil sector, displeased with Ojulari’s sweeping reforms, are working with political opponents to sabotage the administration. They praised the President for appointing Ojulari, describing him as a reformer who has initiated major clean-ups within the NNPCL.

According to them, Ojulari has introduced a comprehensive audit of opaque contracts, implemented a real-time operations dashboard, cut off unqualified middlemen from lucrative deals, and strengthened internal oversight to plug revenue leakages.

“Mr. Ojulari initiated a sweeping audit of long-standing, opaque contracts particularly those involving crude lifting and infrastructure projects. This has exposed inflated costs and revenue leakages, many of which are now under internal review.

“Under his directive, the NNPC now operates a real-time reporting dashboard for critical operations—ensuring better monitoring of crude production, refining activities, and fuel distribution nationwide.

“Mr. Ojulari has ended several shady deals with unqualified intermediaries and shell entities used to siphon national resources. This alone has saved billions in prospective losses to the nation.

“For the first time in years, whistleblowing and internal accountability are being actively encouraged at NNPC. Dozens of staff have been reassigned, and internal oversight units strengthened.

“The GMD has opened up collaboration with transparency-focused global institutions, signaling Nigeria’s renewed seriousness in cleaning up its oil sector image.”

The groups insisted that despite visible improvements—such as the end of fuel queues and reduced petrol pump prices—some corrupt elements remain determined to undermine the changes.

“The era of long queue at the filling stations is gone. The era of fuel scarcity is gone. The era of Nigerian sleeping at filling stations or buying adulterated black market fuel is far gone but these enemies of Nigeria are not comfortable and they are coming out as saints to cause crisis and majorly discredit President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, their major target, by sponsoring protest and media attacks on the leadership of the NNPCL. Nigerians must reject these individuals.”

Ogenyi further described the alleged smear campaign as a desperate move by those whose interests have been threatened by the reforms.

“We therefore call on all patriotic Nigerians, civil society actors, and media professionals to defend the truth, expose malicious intent, and support the genuine transformation of the NNPC.

“Under this leadership, Nigerians continue to have reduction on prices of petroleum products as pump prices of premium motor spirits slash down.

“We wish to encourage Mr. President to continue with his reforms and not be intimidated by anyone trying to discredit his administration or appointees because Mr President has blocked leakages where corruption resides in the NNPCL through Mr Ojulari’s credible leadership. We urged Mr President to continue to believe in the performing team across agencies of government.”