Energy rights activists under the banner of the Energy Justice Forum (EJF) have issued a stern challenge to Bayo Ojulari, the newly appointed Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL.
The forum urged Ojulari not to carry forward what it termed the “dubious, dollar-chasing reforms” of his predecessor, Mele Kyari.
In a statement released on the 11th of April, 2025, Dr. Godknows Manager, the Coalition’s national president, emphasized that Nigerians deserve more than token gestures they deserve transparency.
He stressed that the country’s energy future cannot thrive under secrecy and elitist policies.
The statement further called for a comprehensive audit of Kyari’s tenure, demanding full scrutiny of all contracts, swaps, and transactions that took place during his leadership.
Manager warned, “It would be a grave mistake for the new NNPCL leadership to continue down the disastrous path set by Kyari. This path severely threatened our economy, weakened local refining, and exposed the country to dangerous foreign exchange instability.”
The forum made it clear that the public would hold the new leadership accountable.
“We are watching closely. Nigerians are watching,” said Manager, stressing that the forum would not hesitate to rally civil society resistance if any of Kyari’s controversial practices re-emerged.
“Nigerians deserve transparency, not tokenism; energy justice, not backdoor deals,” Manager asserted, calling for a detailed audit of Kyari’s legacy and the full disclosure of all related transactions disguised as “liberalisation.”
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On a more positive note, the forum applauded the government for reinstating the naira-for-crude policy, believing it benefits local refineries and the Nigerian public at large. The policy shift, they argued, was not just in favour of Dangote Refinery, but a long-overdue step towards revitalizing local refining capacity and relieving Nigerians from the burden of an import-dependent energy system.
Manager hailed the decision as “the most patriotic intervention in Nigeria’s petroleum sector in recent history.” He called on the new NNPCL leadership to support the president’s reform efforts and align with this positive direction for Nigeria’s energy future.
“It’s not just about Dangote,” Manager continued.
“It’s about returning value to Nigerians, empowering refineries in Warri, Port Harcourt, and Kaduna, and ensuring Nigerians are no longer at the mercy of dollar-denominated fuel pricing.”
Finally, the forum encouraged the new NNPCL board to strengthen partnerships with indigenous investors and engineers, reinforcing that Nigeria’s refining potential should be realized by its own people.
“We cannot build a sustainable energy future on the back of secrecy and elitist policies. This is a new dawn. The new NNPCL must walk in light, not shadows,” Manager concluded.