A coalition of Niger Delta Youth Leaders on Wednesday stormed the headquarters of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) in Abuja, demanding the removal of the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, over alleged corruption, mismanagement, and marginalization of Niger Delta indigenes.
Operating under the aegis of the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders’ Forum, the protesters arrived as early as 6am, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Ojulari Has Resigned – He Must Vacate Office Now!”, “NNPCL Cannot Function Without Credible Leadership”, and “Make Our Refinery Work and Employ Our People.” Security operatives were deployed to maintain calm as the youths chanted solidarity songs.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Jonathan Lokpobiri, chairman of the forum, accused Ojulari of sidelining Niger Delta indigenes within the company, sacking qualified staff, withholding salaries of oil pipeline surveillance workers, and sabotaging operations at the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries to allegedly sell them at “scrap value” to cronies.
He further alleged that over $21 million in public funds had been diverted into private accounts.
The protesters vowed that no NNPCL could exist without Niger Delta’s resources and insisted on Ojulari’s removal and the appointment of a Niger Delta indigene as GCEO.
They, however, agreed to dialogue with company officials following the intervention of the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Mr. Heineken Lokpobiri, and promised to brief the public on the outcome.
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
