Wednesday, June 3, 2026

The Sun Nigeria

Probe alleged threats on NNPCL GCEO, Itsekiri group tasks IGP, DSS

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Bashir Bayo Ojulari

Itsekiri Progressive Youth Movement (IPYM) has called on the Inspector – General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and other relevant security agencies to investigate the alleged threats to life,  raised by the Group Chief Executive Officer, GCEO of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, (NNPCL),  Bashir Bayo Ojulari.    

Speaking last week at the NNPC Towers in Abuja, while playing host to a delegation from the national body of the Petroleum & Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) led by its president, Festus Osifo, alleged that he was facing threats to his life because certain forces were not comfortable with the reforms he has introduced to instill sanity in the oil sector.

He maintained that the reforms have unsettled the forces who benefit tremendously from the current inefficiencies in the oil and gas sector, particularly  the comatose shape of the nation’s four refineries.

He said:”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”

The IPYM, in a statement noted that an orchestrated protest staged in Abuja  calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sack Ojulari and his alarm of threats to life  should not be treated with levity by security agencies.

The statement signed by Jerry Atiene and Honourable Romeo Ogedegbe, national chairman and general secretary, respectively declared that security agents must unmask individuals behind the threats to life of the NNPCL GEO.

“We were deeply troubled, when the NNPCL Boss, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, disclosed that his life and those of the company’s management staff were being threatened.     “Patriotic Nigerians and critical stakeholders, should be worried by Engr. Ojulari’s statement that his offence was introducing reforms in the oil  and gas sector, in – line with President Bola Tinubu’s determination to revive the moribund public refineries in PortHarcourt, Warri and Kaduna.                        “Security agencies should  swing into action immediately, to unmask those behind the threats and blackmail..”                

Whilst positing that the Ojulari must-go protest at Abuja was a classical case of corruption fighting back, the Delta State-based organisation, called on the Ojulari not to be deterred in his resolve to make the NNPCL  profit – oriented and ensure the four public owned refineries work optimally.             The group further pleaded with Nigerians to give the Ojulari-led management of NNPCL more time to turn around the fortunes of the public refineries towards  a progressive trajectory and contribute more meaningfully to our national development.