A coalition of civil society organisations has demanded the immediate dismissal of the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, over alleged N5.7 billion consultancy contract scandal and claims of financial recklessness.
The coalition — comprising the Coalition of Nigerian Patriots for Good Governance, Concerned Workers, and Transparency Advocates made the demand in an open letter to Nigerians on Thursday.
In the strongly worded letter, the groups accused Ojulari of engaging in what they described as “reckless, unconscionable spending of public resources.”
“Recent investigations have revealed that NNPCL secretly awarded a ₦5.7 billion consultancy contract to a little-known and controversial firm called HASKE, without due process, transparency, or justification,” the letter, signed by Musa Abdullahi on behalf of the coalition, alleged.
The organisations said the contract was awarded without public advertisement, competitive bidding, or scrutiny from regulatory agencies.
“This is not just a violation of public procurement laws—it is a calculated looting of Nigeria’s oil wealth.
“₦5.7 billion—nearly $4 million at today’s rates—was signed away behind closed doors while hospitals go without equipment, schools lack basic infrastructure, and millions cannot afford a single meal a day,” the letter continued.
The coalition said the sum could have been better utilised to provide critical infrastructure and services, citing the potential to build 570 Primary Health Centres in rural areas, fund scholarships for 50,000 students, construct over 100 kilometres of rural roads, or support thousands of young entrepreneurs.
In addition to the contract allegations, the coalition accused Ojulari of authorising an extravagant management retreat in Kigali, Rwanda, where private jets were reportedly used, luxury accommodations booked, and hefty estacodes paid out to senior officials.
“Even more disturbing is that staff within NNPCL describe him as high-handed, arrogant, and feared, openly boasting of his closeness to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, using that proximity as a shield against scrutiny,” the CSO said.
“Why is the Group CEO of our national oil company flying in private jets while Nigerians queue endlessly for fuel, grapple with blackouts, and drown under high food prices?
“The answers are simple: impunity, entitlement, and lack of political will to punish the powerful.
“We, the Nigerian people, say enough is enough,” it said.
The groups issued a set of demands, key among them the immediate sack of Ojulari.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu immediately sack Mr. Bayo Ojulari as Group CEO of NNPCL.
“We want to state that Ojulari’s plan is to kill NNPCL because we want to authoritatively state that so many Top Principled NNPCL staffs like Chief Operating Officer, Spokesman and others have started resigning. So many professionals plan to leave the NNPCL for Ojulari,” it alleged.
They also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to open an investigation into the N5.7 billion contract, including tracing ownership details, bank records, and deliverables.
“All estacodes and travel expenses paid for the Kigali retreat be refunded to the national treasury within 14 days.
“The National Assembly sets up a public hearing to investigate NNPCL’s opaque contract practices and rising culture of financial recklessness.
“Corporate governance frameworks at NNPCL be reviewed, and violators prosecuted under anti-corruption laws.”
They argued that failure to act on the allegations would contradict the principles of the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“If the Tinubu administration is truly committed to the Renewed Hope Agenda (which we know he is), then men like Ojulari cannot be allowed to trample on the hopes of millions,” the group said.
The CSOs also announced plans for a two-day advocacy march scheduled for July 1–2, 2025, calling on Nigerians, civil society groups and the media to join in.
“We have scheduled a 2 days advocacy march to press home our demand which is scheduled for 1st – 2nd July, 2025. We enjoin other Civil Society Organisations, Media and the Nigerian Public to join us in this advocacy march. No one should be allowed to loot our common patrimony again.
“This letter is not a whisper. It is a roar,” it added.
