By Abubakar Yunusa
A coalition of Nigerian youth and civil society groups has commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing Engr Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
The Coalition of Geo-political Youth Association of Nigeria and Civil Societies, in a press statement on Tuesday, described Ojulari’s appointment on April 2, 2025, as a strategic move, citing his extensive experience in the oil and gas sector.
Ojulari, a former Managing Director at Shell Nigeria, is credited with managing the Bonga oil field and boosting production efficiency by 20% while cutting operational costs by 30%.
The coalition highlighted NNPCL’s ambitious targets under Ojulari, including attracting $30 billion in investments by 2027 and increasing crude oil production to 2 million barrels per day.
Significant progress has been made, including the handover of 35 hybrid Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to ease transportation costs and advancing the $2.8 billion Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline project.
Ojulari’s leadership has also seen the resumption of crude oil drilling at the Kolmani site, marking a historic exploration in Northern Nigeria, the coalition noted.
The group praised NNPCL’s new transparency measures, such as monthly reports published since April 2025, which have coincided with a reduction in fuel prices.
Amb Olasunkanmi John Kolawole, the coalition’s convener, urged Nigerian youth to support Ojulari’s reforms and resist being used as “political tools” by detractors.
The coalition called for unity among stakeholders to back NNPCL’s transformation efforts, emphasizing Ojulari’s vision for energy access and affordability.
President Tinubu’s appointment of Ojulari was hailed as a commitment to excellence, with the coalition expressing optimism for Nigeria’s economic progress under his leadership.
