KEY POINTS
- Niger Delta youth leaders backed Bashir Ojulari and urged Tinubu to reject calls for his removal as NNPC Ltd. CEO.
- The group said allegations over security spending should be investigated through due process rather than media campaigns.
- NDENYLF argued that leadership stability and sustained reforms are vital to improving NNPC Ltd., investor confidence and Nigeria’s oil sector.
Niger Delta youth leaders have thrown their weight behind the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Bashir Ojulari, urging President Bola Tinubu to resist calls for his removal and allow him to continue with the ongoing reforms at the national oil company.
The Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Forum, NDENYLF, said leadership stability and continuity were essential to transforming NNPC Ltd. into a more efficient, commercially driven and globally competitive energy company.
The group’s position comes amid growing public debate over calls for Ojulari’s resignation following allegations concerning security-related expenditures at NNPC Ltd.
In a statement signed by the forum’s spokesman, Legborsi Yamaabana, NDENYLF said it had closely followed the campaign seeking Ojulari’s removal and the controversy that followed media reports on the allegations.
The forum said the allegations should not be treated as established facts until they have been properly investigated and determined through the appropriate legal and statutory channels.
According to the group, public institutions must be subjected to legitimate oversight, but accountability should be pursued through due process rather than public pressure or what it described as media trials.
The youth leaders argued that Nigeria’s strategic institutions require stability and professionalism to implement reforms effectively, particularly in sectors as critical to the national economy as oil and gas.
They described Ojulari as a seasoned industry professional with extensive technical and executive experience, saying his background places him in a strong position to lead efforts aimed at improving the performance of NNPC Ltd.
NDENYLF said the ongoing transformation of NNPC Ltd. should not be disrupted by controversies that could distract the company’s management from its reform objectives.
The group said the national oil company needs consistent leadership, stronger corporate governance, improved operational efficiency and long-term planning to achieve meaningful changes in Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
It maintained that the oil and gas sector remains central to Nigeria’s economy and that instability at the top of NNPC Ltd. could affect investor confidence and slow efforts to improve production and profitability.
The forum therefore urged the Federal Government to focus on strengthening the company’s institutional framework and ensuring that reforms are allowed sufficient time to produce results.
Accountability should follow due process
While defending Ojulari, the youth leaders stressed that their position should not be interpreted as opposition to accountability or oversight.
The forum acknowledged that public institutions must remain open to scrutiny and that legitimate concerns should be investigated by the appropriate authorities.
“Every public institution is subject to oversight, and where legitimate questions arise, the appropriate statutory agencies should be allowed to carry out their constitutional responsibilities without prejudice or media trials,” the group said.
It added that accountability should be pursued through fairness, due process and the rule of law.
The forum’s position effectively calls for any allegations involving NNPC Ltd. or its officials to be subjected to proper investigation rather than resolved through public campaigns for leadership changes.
NDENYLF also linked its support for institutional stability at NNPC Ltd. to longstanding concerns and expectations in the Niger Delta.
The group said communities in the oil-producing region had consistently demanded greater transparency in the petroleum industry, increased oil production, stronger engagement with host communities, environmental responsibility and sustainable development.
It argued that achieving these objectives would require competent leadership and institutions capable of implementing policies consistently over the long term.
The youth leaders further commended efforts aimed at improving operational efficiency, strengthening corporate governance and boosting investor confidence in NNPC Ltd.
They said the company’s transformation into a commercially oriented national energy company would be important to Nigeria’s ability to compete in the global energy market.
The forum appealed directly to President Tinubu to remain committed to the ongoing reform process and resist pressure that could result in what it described as a premature leadership change at NNPC Ltd.
It argued that replacing the company’s leadership amid ongoing reforms could disrupt institutional continuity and potentially slow progress in the petroleum sector.
The youth body maintained that Ojulari should be given the opportunity to complete the task of repositioning NNPC Ltd. and implementing the reforms already under way.
According to the group, the objective should be to make the company more productive, transparent, profitable and competitive while strengthening its contribution to Nigeria’s economic growth.
The forum also urged Nigerians and stakeholders to prioritise constructive engagement over political or public campaigns that could distract from the broader reform agenda.
