The People’s Wellbeing Association (PWA), a leading human rights and advocacy group in West Africa, has declared Engr. Bashir Ojulari as the best Chief Executive Officer in the history of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), citing unprecedented reforms and operational achievements since his appointment in April 2025.
Comrade Abba Abubakar, Head of Communication for Peoples Wellbeing Association (PWA) said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
Abubakar noted that despite facing opposition from what it described as “greedy oil thieves,” Ojulari has remained steadfast in his commitment to transparency and commercial discipline.
The group’s communication unit head, who lauded Ojulari’s uncommon and courageous reforms, further asserted that the NNPCL boss has come to stay, adding that detractors who seek his removal have failed in their efforts.
According to him, under Ojulari’s leadership, NNPCL has recorded what industry observers describe as transformative milestones across its upstream, midstream, and downstream operations.
The group’s communication head said that the company’s upstream subsidiary under Ojulari has achieved a daily crude oil production level of 355,000 barrels, the highest in 36 years, surpassing levels last recorded in 1989 .
He said that this achievement has significantly strengthened national output performance and enhanced foreign exchange earnings.
Reeling out Ojulari’s landmark achievements, Abubakar said that moment under Ojulari’s administration was NNPCL’s first-ever Group Earnings Call to publicly disclose audited 2024 financial results – a bold step toward global best-practice transparency.
He added that the company has also reinstated monthly operational and financial performance reports, a transparency move rarely seen in its history.
Abubakar also identified the introduction of modern Delegation of Authority (DoA) and Delegation of Financial Authority (DoFA) frameworks which has improved decision-making efficiency, accountability, and internal governance standards as one of the landmarks of Ojulari.
He said that Governance reforms were further strengthened through the creation of Chief Compliance and Chief Sustainability offices.
Abubakar said that In a candid admission at the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) 2026, Ojulari disclosed that intense political pressure had previously kept state-owned refineries running despite monumental losses.
He revealed that the company is now overhauling its refinery rehabilitation strategy, moving away from contractor-led models toward partnerships with established global refinery operators.
“We are not looking for contractors anymore. We want companies that run refineries successfully. They will co-own the assets, lead operations, and help us build the competence to manage them sustainably.
“The strategy aims to attract partners who will acquire equity stakes, ensuring they have “skin in the game” and a direct financial incentive to deliver efficiency, reliability, and profitability,” Abubakar quoted Ojulari as saying.
According to Abubakar, beyond endorsing Ojulari’s leadership, the People’s Wellbeing Association also raised concerns about pipeline surveillance contracts.
He affirmed the commitment of the group in urging President Bola Tinubu not to renew existing arrangements without carrying other stakeholders along.
Abubakar expressed the group’s demand for fairness and pipeline surveillance, saying that contracts be equitably split among Niger Delta stakeholders.
He therefore warned that the President runs the risk of losing support in the region if the contracts are not shared fairly.
Abubakar further suggested that the Nigerian Army and Navy should take over pipeline surveillance contracts, arguing that security agencies are better positioned to handle such critical national infrastructure.
The communication unit head however emphasized that equitable distribution of pipeline surveillance contracts among Niger Delta stakeholders would foster peace, enhance security, and ensure that host communities derive maximum benefits from oil and gas operations in their areas.
The PWA communication unit head explained that Industry experts have however noted that the reforms under Ojulari have repositioned NNPCL from a closed public institution into a commercially accountable national energy company.
Abubakar said that the Coalition of Civil Society for Transparency in the Extractive Industry (CCSTEI) recently commended Ojulari for restoring confidence in NNPCL after many challenging years, stating that he has proven that “visionary leadership, coupled with accountability and performance excellence, can redefine an institution for the better” .
The PWA communication unit head who reaffirmed their confidence in Ojulari’s leadership, said that as Ojulari’s tenure unfolds, expectations remain high that transparency, efficiency, and investment discipline will translate into lasting value for Nigerians.
“For many industry watchers, the message is clear: under Ojulari, NNPCL is no longer just reforming, it is beginning to deliver.” Abubakar said.
