Why we withdrew demand for NNPCL boss Ojulari’s removal — Experts

Oil and gas experts have explained why they withdrew their demand for the removal of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari.

In a statement on Saturday by its President, Ibrahim Danjuma, the Association of Energy Policy Development said it had relied on incomplete and misleading information when it initially called for Ojulari’s removal.

Recall that the association had earlier called for Ojulari’s removal over alleged lack of transparency and opacity in the state-owned firm’s operations under his leadership.

However, in a U-turn, the association said further investigations had shown that its earlier criticism of the firm was unfair.

“We called for the resignation of Mr Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, arguing that the information available to us at the time suggested a disturbing level of opacity and weak accountability in the management of the nation’s petroleum resources.

“Today (Saturday), after conducting further investigations, reviewing additional documents and engaging with relevant industry stakeholders, we have come before you to formally retract that position,” Danjuma stated.

Recall that in the past weeks, Ojulari came under fire over his alleged role in the award of oil blocks to cronies and friends during the recently concluded licensing round by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). However, NNPCL had defended Ojulari.

‘Two Nigerian oil blocks awarded to Ojulari’s friends’ – Momoh replies NNPCL, NUPRC