The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has pushed back against demands for the removal of its Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, and the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Meyiwa Eyesan. The call came from the Oil and Gas Professionals Forum (OGPF), a group led by convener Ayodele Momoh, which accused the two leaders of presiding over continued sector underperformance, questionable transactions, and controversial oil block awards.
In a statement posted on X by NNPCL spokesperson Andy Odeh, the state-owned oil firm defended both executives and clarified its role in the recent licensing round conducted by the NUPRC. The OGPF had alleged that Ojulari used his influence to secure favourable oil blocks for allies, including one of his wives, during the round that saw 31 companies win 37 available blocks. The forum explicitly demanded the removal of both Ojulari and Eyesan.
NNPCL countered that under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, the conduct of licensing rounds and the allocation of oil blocks fall strictly within the statutory mandate of the NUPRC. The company emphasized that since its incorporation, it has operated as a commercial entity with no regulatory or allocative authority. The statement sought to draw a clear line between NNPCL’s commercial operations and the regulator’s statutory duties.
Addressing sector performance, NNPCL cited growth in key production metrics. The company said crude oil production, inclusive of condensate, grew by 6 percent to 1.67 million barrels per day in April, up from 1.60 million barrels per day the previous year. That increase represents approximately 80,000 barrels per day, figures the firm said are documented in its publicly available Monthly Performance Report. NNPCL also reported that gas production rose by 5 percent to 7,354 million standard cubic feet per day from 7,729 million standard cubic feet per day.
The company warned that it reserves the right to take necessary steps to protect its reputation and that of its leadership against what it described as false or unsubstantiated claims. The exchange highlights ongoing tensions between industry stakeholders and the leadership of Nigeria’s petroleum institutions as the sector navigates the implementation of the PIA and efforts to boost output and transparency.
