The first 100 days of Mr. Bayo Ojulari as Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) have been nothing short of eventful—marked by bold declarations, historic project milestones, internal unrest, and rising criticism.
Appointed on April 2, 2024, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Ojulari succeeded Malam Mele Kyari with a clear presidential mandate: boost operational efficiency, restore investor confidence, deepen local content, advance gas commercialization, and drive economic transformation through the national oil company.
But as the clock ticked past his 100th day in office, reactions have been sharply divided between cautious praise and mounting discontent.
Barely a week into office, Ojulari faced resistance from within. On April 8, the NNPC Group Executive Councils of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) issued a scathing letter warning against appointing outsiders to senior management roles.
The letter, jointly signed by top union leaders—including Solomon Orieji (PENGASSAN GEC Chairman) and Baba Kaumi (NUPENG GEC Chairman)—cautioned that recruiting Executive Vice Presidents and Managers from outside the company would “undermine staff career growth” and threaten industrial harmony. The unions threatened to shut down operations if their concerns were ignored.
READ ALSO: Breaking: NNPCL hikes petrol price across retail outlets amid fresh supply pressures
But Ojulari’s tenure has not been without controversy. One of the most widely criticized actions was his decision to host a retreat for NNPCL’s newly constituted board members in Kigali, Rwanda. The retreat reportedly cost the company millions of naira, with five private jets chartered to ferry officials—an act described by critics as wasteful and insensitive, given Nigeria’s economic challenges.
Media personality and former presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, captured public outrage in a widely shared comment on Arise TV: “They give you a job, and the first thing you do is fly board members to Rwanda for a retreat? You could have done it in Akwa Ibom or Abeokuta. This is not leadership—it’s luxury masquerading as strategy.”
Internally, staff have raised concerns about Ojulari’s leadership style, including alleged extravagance, inconsistency in policy decisions, and favoring a select group of female aides in appointments and promotions.
For instance, Ojulari initially told Bloomberg in a July 11 interview that the federal government would sell the country’s ailing refineries. But just weeks later, during a staff town hall meeting on July 30, he reversed that position—blaming misinformation from subordinates.
“These kinds of policy summersaults have become frequent,” a senior manager at NNPCL lamented. “He often blames poor briefing, but that only underscores deeper leadership and coordination issues.”
Another storm Ojulari faced was a Senate Committee summons over the whereabouts of N201 trillion, funds allegedly unremitted by NNPCL.
During the hearing, Ojulari appeared flustered and unprepared, requesting more time to consult with auditors—who were notably absent.
This has raised fresh questions about accountability and transparency under his leadership.
Ojulari has also been accused of promoting a circle of female aides to sensitive positions—some described as long-time associates.
While some view this as an attempt to improve gender balance in a male-dominated sector, others within NNPCL see it as favoritism. Promotions perceived as covering for these placements have stirred resentment, with union leaders warning of possible “internal combustion.”
Perhaps most symbolic of the disconnect between expectations and reality is the fact that Ojulari is yet to visit any NNPCL facility or refinery across Nigeria. Instead, his time in office has been characterized by courtesy calls, media appearances, and hosting events.
READ ALSO: SERAP sues NNPCL over alleged missing N825bn, $2.5bn meant
In a June 27 statement, NNPCL dismissed many of the allegations as a coordinated smear campaign, accusing “a syndicate of known and faceless actors” of trying to undermine the company’s leadership. The company insisted that:
“Transformation is underway, and no amount of sabotage will stop it.”
Ojulari’s first 100 days have laid bare the challenges of leading Africa’s largest oil company in a volatile environment. While he can point to early progress on gas infrastructure and pipeline security, growing dissent within NNPCL’s ranks and public backlash over his style and decisions are casting a shadow on his leadership.
With investor confidence, staff morale, and national interest at stake, stakeholders are watching closely to see whether Bayo Ojulari can realign with the bold vision of transformation President Tinubu envisioned—or whether the honeymoon is already over.