Bashir Bayo Ojulari, Group CEO of NNPC, has revealed that the Company is under attack from people who don’t mean well for Nigeria and who are against the ongoing transformation efforts in the Company. He said that because change always comes with a price, the NNPC Management will not succumb to such attacks. Instead, it will work for the larger interest of Nigerians.
According to the release by the company, Ojulari disclosed this while hosting a delegation from the national body of the Petroleum & Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) at the NNPC Towers in Abuja on Thursday. “We are under attack. We will not budge to short-term pressure, as it will not be in the best interest of Nigerians. You cannot drive change without a price, and the transformation is tough,” Ojulari said.
The GCEO emphasised that patience will be required from the Nigerian people at large to get to the other side of change, which will benefit Nigeria and its citizens. He reiterated his commitment to stay focused on driving the mandate given to the team by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. While thanking the leadership of the Union for its support, Ojulari assured them to stay calm and build resilience to stay focused during these trials. “I am overwhelmed with the support from the union executives present here. The enemies of this company and Nigerians will not win,” he added.
He said that since coming on board about five months ago, his Management Team prioritised reviving the nation’s refineries to put them back into a more sustainable and profitable venture by considering the Incorporated Joint Venture (IJV) model. “Mr. President doesn’t pressure me to do the wrong thing.
That is why we are looking at the baseline to ensure that whatever we are doing, the refineries work sustainably going forward. We don’t want to pretend and just do a quick fix because there is pressure on us,” Ojulari added. Earlier in his address, Festus Osifo, the President of PENGASSAN, said the oil workers’ union came to thank the NNPC Management for its partnership during the recently held 2025 PENGASSAN Energy & Labour Summit (PEALS) in Abuja.
The Union also acknowledged the “remarkable milestones” recorded so far under the GCEO’s watch. “Our pipelines are now working. Also, crude oil theft has significantly reduced, leading to increased production. As PENGASSAN, we assure you that we are solidly behind you,” he said. “We will work with you and collaborate with your team to ensure the stability of the system for the benefit of all Nigerians,” he concluded.
Photo Captions: 1. GCEO NNPC Ltd, Bashir Bayo Ojulari (right) with the National President, Petroleum & Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Comrade Festus Osifo at the NNPC Towers, in Abuja on Thursday.
SOURCE: businessday.ng