The Coalition of Civil Society Groups for Peace, Security, Good Governance, Equity and Justice (CCSG-PSGEJ) has strongly defended the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Chief Bayo Ojulari, dismissing a recent commentary published in ThisDay Newspaper as “misleading” and “selectively critical.”
In a press statement issued by its National Coordinator, Comrade James Okoronkwo, the coalition described the April 4, 2026 back-page article as an “exercise in selective amnesia,” arguing that it failed to acknowledge key milestones recorded under Ojulari’s leadership within one year.
The group criticized the article’s claim of “lack of execution at scale,” insisting that such an assessment ignored major financial and operational achievements, including an audited N5.76 trillion profit and a production surge by the NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL) to 330,000 barrels per day.
According to the coalition, NNPCL also recorded a Profit After Tax (PAT) of N385 billion in January 2026 alone under the “Fit-For-Future” strategy, marking what it described as a significant turnaround for a company previously perceived as underperforming.
“For a company that was once a fiscal black hole, this level of profitability reflects a transformation that even global oil majors would acknowledge,” the statement noted.
The coalition further highlighted improvements in Nigeria’s crude oil and condensate output, which it said rose to 1.64 million barrels per day in early 2026. It attributed this development to sustained maintenance of key offshore assets such as the Agbami Field, as well as operational optimization in the Renaissance (EA) area.
On infrastructure, the group pointed to progress on the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline project, stating that it has reached 92 percent completion, including critical milestones such as crossing the River Niger. It described the development as a major step toward realizing Nigeria’s “Decade of Gas” agenda.
Beyond infrastructure and financial performance, CCSG-PSGEJ emphasized what it termed a “cultural transformation” within NNPCL. It cited the recruitment of 1,000 young professionals, popularly referred to as “The Tigers,” as well as the introduction of a new Delegation of Financial Authority (DOA) aimed at improving efficiency and reducing bureaucratic delays.
The group also credited Ojulari with strengthening collaboration between NNPCL and the Dangote Refinery, noting that 19 crude cargoes were delivered in a single month to support domestic supply stability.
In addition, it referenced a June 2026 deadline set for technical partners handling the rehabilitation of national refineries, describing it as evidence of clear planning and measurable targets.
Reacting directly to the commentary by ThisDay columnist Obinna Chima, the coalition said the “mixed scorecard” narrative was a misrepresentation of ongoing reforms.
“Chief Bayo Ojulari has spent the last 365 days restructuring and stabilizing a complex institution. The results are evident in profitability, production growth, and institutional reforms,” the statement said.
The group concluded that while the first year focused on laying a solid foundation, the coming phase would deliver more visible large-scale outcomes.
