Protesters accuse Bashir Ojulari of corruption, insist on a Niger Delta indigene for the top job
A massive protest erupted in Abuja on Wednesday as youth leaders from the Niger Delta region barricaded the headquarters of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), calling for the immediate resignation of its Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Mr. Bashir Ojulari.
The demonstrators, who arrived at the NNPCL Towers as early as 6:00 a.m., blocked both the entrance and exit gates of the complex, leaving workers and visitors stranded. The blockade caused heavy traffic gridlock along Herbert Macaulay Way in the Central Business District, as motorists struggled to navigate the restricted lanes.
Carrying placards and banners with bold inscriptions, the youths accused Mr. Ojulari of corruption, mismanagement, and deliberate marginalisation of the Niger Delta in the leadership of the national oil company. They insisted that only an indigene of the region, the nation’s oil-producing hub, should be appointed to lead the NNPCL.
“The time has come for justice to be done. The Niger Delta people are the backbone of Nigeria’s oil wealth, yet we are being sidelined in critical positions. We will not accept anything less than the appointment of one of our own as GCEO,” one of the protest leaders declared.
The demonstrators vowed to sustain the protest until the Federal Government intervenes, stressing that Ojulari’s leadership was no longer acceptable to the oil-rich region.
Security operatives, including heavily armed policemen, were quickly deployed to the area to forestall any breakdown of law and order. Officers of the Nigeria Police Force diverted vehicles into a single lane to reduce traffic tension, while preventing protesters from gaining unrestricted access to the building.
Despite the heavy security presence, staff of the NNPCL were unable to drive into the Towers and were forced to park their cars several meters away before trekking to their offices. The disruption left many commuters stranded, as the usually busy road was clogged for several hours.
The protest underscores deepening discontent among stakeholders from the Niger Delta, who have long complained of neglect despite being the heartbeat of Nigeria’s oil economy. The youths warned that if their demands are ignored, more drastic measures could follow in the coming days.
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