By Nonso Okoye
The Coalition of Civil Society Groups for Peace, Security, Good Governance, Equity and Justice (CCSG-PSGEJ) has noted with concern a back-page commentary in ThisDay Newspaper dated April 4, 2026, titled “One Year of Bayo Ojulari at NNPC.” While the Coalition welcomes robust public discourse, we must correct the skewed narrative that mistakes “Precision Planning” for a “Lack of Execution.”
Critics who demand “execution at scale” must look at the audited balance sheet. Under Bayo Ojulari’s first year, the NNPCL is on track to deliver a record N5.76 Trillion Profit After Tax (PAT). In any global oil jurisdiction, a CEO who increases profitability while navigating a volatile transition is a visionary, not a laggard.
Obinna Chima’s column glosses over the operational reality of our national assets. Chief Ojulari inherited a production slump and, through the “Project Integrity initiative, has pushed NEPL production to a steady 330,000 bpd. This was achieved by neutralizing the “Village Rats” and technical saboteurs who previously held the upstream sector hostage.
Execution isn’t just about PMS queues; it’s about future-proofing. Ojulari has fast-tracked the AKK Gas Pipeline and the Gbaramatu-Escravos axis, ensuring that Nigeria’s industrialization is powered by domestic gas.
Contrary to the “intent without execution” claim, Ojulari has been the primary architect of the “Naira-for-Crude” framework, providing the strategic bridge that allowed the Dangote Refinery to stabilize the local market. This is the definition of high-stakes execution at scale.
Chief Bayo Ojulari is not a magician; he is a Reformist. After 365 days of “Draining the Swamp,” the NNPCL is finally ready for the skyscraper phase. We urge the “ThisDay” columnists and other observers to swap their “skepticism” for “strategic patience.” The harvest is already in the soil.
Signed:
Comrade James Okoronkwo
National Coordinator, CCSG-PSGE
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