Breaking: Top Tinubu's Appointee Ojulari 'Under Attack'
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering public affairs and governance in Nigeria.
FCT, Abuja - Bashir Bayo Ojulari, the group CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited, on Thursday, August 28, raised an alarm.
As reported by Vanguard, Ojulari alleged that his life is under serious threat.
The NNPCL boss raised the alarm when he received the delegation of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), led by its president, Festus Osifo, at the company’s headquarters, Abuja.
Responding to comments made by the PENGASSAN president on the stability of the NNPCL and stability in the oil sector, Ojulari explained that, despite the alleged threats to his life and the lives of some management staff, he is determined to ensure that the refineries work effectively.
He said:
“I’m not hiding to anybody. I’m not a politician. I will have to learn a bit more about politics, but it’s a development plan for me, right? And I’m ready to learn.”
Legit.ng reports that Kwara-born Ojulari is an engineer and expert in petroleum, process and production engineering, serving as the NNPCL GCEO since April 2025.
He worked at Shell where he retired from his positions in July 2021.
Group backs Ojulari
Meanwhile, the Coalition of Niger Delta People for Development (CONFODEV), an umbrella body comprising several pan-Niger Delta groups, has condemned alleged attacks against Ojulari.
The coalition described the allegations of corruption and marginalisation against Ojulari and by extension President Bola Tinubu as “baseless, politically motivated and the handiwork of enemies of development.”
Speaking in a press briefing on Thursday, August 28, 2025, one of the coalition's leaders, Iteveh Nurudeen Ekpokpobe, said the attacks represent corruption fighting back against reforms initiated by the new GCEO.
The Punch quoted Ekpokpobe as saying:
“Mr. Ojulari assumed office barely four months ago, and within this short period, he has introduced turnaround initiatives that have boosted crude oil production to near-peak levels, revitalized infrastructure, and extended empowerment projects to host communities in the Niger Delta."
He noted that vested interests who thrived on the old corrupt system have become unsettled by Ojulari’s drive for fairness, transparency, and equity in the oil sector.
The coalition declared:
“For context, previous managements of the NNPCL nepotistically awarded contracts that fueled inter-ethnic tensions in the Niger Delta. Today, Mr. Ojulari’s resolve to introduce equity in contract awards has unsettled those who benefited from injustice."
The coalition described those calling for Ojulari’s sack as “agents of sabotage,” insisting that Nigerians must rally behind a leader whose vision aligns with national aspirations for a just and transparent oil industry.
A video of CONFODEV's press conference can be viewed below:
Ayodele warns Ojulari
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Primate Elijah Ayodele, spiritual head of the Spiritual Head of the Inri Evangelical Spiritual Church, Lagos, warned Ojulari of a potential removal from office.
In a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, made available to Legit.ng, Primate Ayodele stated that some of the policies of the NNPC Limited boss will be under threat, adding that Ojulari needs to be extra-careful 'to avoid being defeated at the end of the day'.
The cleric alleged that there are gang-ups against Ojulari.
Source: Legit.ng
