A coalition of Niger Delta youth leaders on Wednesday staged a mass protest at the headquarters of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Towers in Abuja, calling for the resignation of the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, over alleged corruption and mismanagement.
The protesters also demanded that the leadership of the national oil giant be handed over to an indigene of the Niger Delta region, stressing that the region, as the main source of Nigeria’s crude oil wealth, deserves to produce the next GCEO of the NNPCL.
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Protest Disrupts Movement in Abuja CBD
Arriving at the towers as early as 6 a.m., the demonstrators blocked both the entrance and exit gates of the NNPCL Towers, effectively grounding activities at the facility.
Carrying banners with bold inscriptions, the protesters chanted solidarity songs while music blared from loudspeakers mounted on a truck stationed near the building. A local orchestra also entertained the crowd.
The demonstration caused significant traffic disruptions along Herbert Macaulay Way in Abuja’s Central Business District, forcing commuters and workers to divert to alternative routes. Many NNPCL staff members were compelled to park their vehicles far from the office gates.
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Security Intervention
Heavily deployed security operatives, including officers of the Nigeria Police Force, engaged the protesters and appealed for calm, ensuring the protest remained peaceful. To ease traffic, security agents diverted vehicles to one lane of the busy dual carriage road leading to the towers.
Following an intervention by a representative of the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the protesters agreed to vacate the highway and relocated to the exit gate of the towers. This move enabled security operatives to reopen the second lane to traffic.
Peaceful But Impactful Demonstration
Despite the disruption, the protest remained largely peaceful, with the coalition maintaining order under the watch of security agencies. The action underscores growing agitation within the Niger Delta for greater inclusion in the management of Nigeria’s oil resources, particularly at the highest leadership levels of the NNPCL.
Why the Protest Matters
- Regional Representation in Oil Governance
The Niger Delta produces the bulk of Nigeria’s crude oil revenue, yet its people argue that they are underrepresented in leadership roles within the oil sector. The demand for a Niger Delta indigene as NNPCL GCEO reflects long-standing calls for equity and inclusion. - Accountability and Corruption Allegations
The protesters’ insistence on the resignation of the current GCEO highlights ongoing concerns about transparency in Nigeria’s oil industry, a sector historically plagued by corruption and mismanagement. - Resource Control Agitation
The protest is part of the broader resource control movement, which has shaped Niger Delta activism for decades. By staging this demonstration at the NNPCL Towers in Abuja, the youths are signaling that the struggle for fair resource management is far from over. - National Economic Impact
Since the NNPCL is central to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, leadership controversies can affect investor confidence, petroleum revenue management, and ultimately the country’s economy. - Security and Stability
Peaceful demonstrations, like this one, serve as reminders of the need for dialogue between the federal government and Niger Delta communities to prevent tensions from escalating into unrest, which could disrupt oil production.
