President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been urged to ensure the quick revival of Nigeria’s moribund refineries and also appoint a new Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC).
The appeal was made on Wednesday in Abuja by a pro-Tinubu organization under the banner of Renewed Hope Interest Defenders.
Earlier in the day, the group had staged a demonstration at the NNPC headquarters to press home their demands, stressing the need for a capable, visionary, and unifying GCEO who can rebuild confidence, foster harmony in management, and reposition the oil company.
Speaking to journalists after the protest, the convener, Comrade Obed Agu, said. “There is an urgent need for a competent, visionary, and unifying GCEO who can restore confidence, unite the leadership team, and reposition NNPC for efficiency.”
Highlighting the challenges confronting the oil sector and hindering the President’s reform agenda, the group called on Tinubu to remove Mr. Bayo Ojulari as GCEO and replace him with someone who has the experience and capacity to stabilize the company.
According to Agu, “We believe in President Tinubu’s ability to take the right decisions at the right time. He has always demonstrated leadership, courage, and resolve in the face of difficulties. That is why we are rallying behind him and urging Nigerians to do the same.”
The group also recalled that in November 2023, Tinubu initiated negotiations with Saudi Arabia for a $5 billion oil-backed loan as part of efforts to boost the nation’s energy sector.
They further commended the President’s target of increasing crude oil production from the current 1.6 million barrels per day to 3 million barrels per day.
However, the group expressed disappointment that under Ojulari’s leadership, NNPC has failed to deliver profitability, a situation they said has contributed to funding shortfalls in the 2025 budget.
They lamented that this failure not only exposes President Tinubu to unfair public criticism but also worsens the economic hardship being faced by citizens.
COURTESY: vavalue
