Civil society organisations under the Civic Centre for Independent Forensic Activists have demanded the resignation of Bashir Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). The demand follows concerns over continued opacity in refinery rehabilitation spending and a new Memorandum of Understanding involving Chinese firms.
Statement Details
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by Executive Director Edward Abakpa, the group cited renewed scrutiny of Nigeria's refinery rehabilitation programmes. They claim that over $3.5 billion has been spent on the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries without delivering sustained operational output.
The latest agreement between NNPC Limited and Chinese firms Sanjiang Chemical Company Limited and Xingcheng Industrial Park Operation and Management Company Limited has intensified public concern over accountability in the downstream petroleum sector.
Accountability Concerns
Abakpa stated that Nigerians are still awaiting a comprehensive public accounting of previous refinery rehabilitation expenditures before the government proceeds with fresh arrangements. “The central issue is accountability. Before entering into fresh arrangements, Nigerians deserve a detailed explanation of how over $3.5 billion previously committed to refinery rehabilitation was utilised, what work was actually completed, and why the refineries remain largely non-functional,” the statement said.
The group expressed concern that the new MoU, reportedly covering rehabilitation, operations, maintenance, and possible expansion of refinery-linked infrastructure, could significantly alter operational and management structures within Nigeria's downstream oil sector. They warned that without full disclosure of the financial and operational terms of the agreement, including the scale of investment commitments and the extent of foreign technical participation, the arrangement risks repeating the shortcomings associated with earlier rehabilitation efforts.
Public Trust Eroded
Abakpa argued that repeated announcements of progress on refinery rehabilitation projects, despite limited operational outcomes, have weakened public trust in the national oil company. “It is unacceptable that after spending more than $3.5 billion on refinery rehabilitation over several phases, there is still no clear, commercially viable output from these facilities. Now we are being presented with another arrangement involving foreign partners without first resolving the accountability gap of the past,” he said.
The civic coalition also questioned the transparency of the selection process for the Chinese firms, the proposed technical equity structure, and the long-term implications of the arrangement for Nigeria's energy sovereignty.
Calls for Investigation
The group called on the National Assembly to commence an immediate public investigation into refinery rehabilitation contracts awarded since 2015, including details of funding sources, contractor performance, project execution, and disbursement records. They further urged anti-corruption agencies to examine possible procurement irregularities and financial leakages linked to refinery rehabilitation programmes over the years.
According to Abakpa, leadership within the national oil company must be held to higher standards of accountability, given the strategic role of refineries in Nigeria's energy security and economic stability. “We cannot build new partnerships on a foundation of unresolved questions. Until Nigerians are told exactly what happened to the $3.5 billion already spent, every new deal will be viewed with suspicion,” he stated.
The organisation reiterated its demand for Ojulari's resignation, insisting that restoring confidence in the oil sector would require greater transparency, accountability, and credible leadership.
