NCWGG Defends NNPC's Ojulari Against Resignation Calls

The Nigeria Citizens’ Watch for Good Governance (NCWGG) has rejected calls for the resignation of Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), due to allegations regarding opaque security spending.

At a press conference in Abuja on Monday, NCWGG National Chairman Collins Idowu Eshiofeh stated that the criticisms overlook the publicly available records of NNPC Ltd and the realities of securing Nigeria's oil and gas infrastructure. He clarified that the security expenditures classified as energy security and pipeline protection in the company’s 2024 financial records are not undisclosed expenses but essential for protecting critical oil infrastructure and curbing crude oil theft.

Eshiofeh emphasized that NNPC Ltd has made strides in corporate transparency, citing the publication of audited financial statements and operational reports. He urged President Bola Tinubu to ignore the resignation calls and continue supporting reforms in the petroleum sector, advocating for public debate grounded in facts.