Energy Justice Forum urges new NNPCL GCEO Bayo Ojulari to reject former boss Mele Kyari’s “dubious” reforms and prioritise transparency

A coalition of energy rights activists, the Energy Justice Forum (EJF), has called on the newly appointed Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, to avoid what it terms “the dubious, dollar-chasing reforms” implemented by his predecessor, Mele Kyari.

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Emphasising the Nigerian public’s right to transparency, the forum cautioned that a sustainable energy future for the country cannot be built on a foundation of secrecy and policies favouring an elite few.

In a statement released on Friday by the EJF’s national president, Dr. Godknows Manager, the coalition demanded a comprehensive audit of Mele Kyari’s tenure, encompassing all contracts, swaps, and financial transactions undertaken during his leadership.

The statement asserted, “It would be a fatal mistake for the new leadership at NNPCL to continue on the path orchestrated by Kyari, a path that nearly collapsed our economy, undermined local refining, and exposed the country to foreign exchange shocks.”

The EJF made it clear that they and the Nigerian populace would be closely monitoring the new leadership’s actions. “We are watching closely.

Nigerians are watching. And we will not hesitate to mobilise civil society resistance if old habits creep back in through the back door,” the statement warned.

“Nigerians deserve transparency, not tokenism; energy justice, not backdoor deals,” the forum insisted. “There must be a clear audit of Kyari’s tenure, all contracts, all swaps, and all the shady transactions disguised as ‘liberalisation’. We are demanding full disclosure and accountability.”

The EJF also commended the executive arm of government for reinstating the naira-for-crude policy, asserting its benefits for local refineries and the wider Nigerian population.

The forum highlighted that this policy shift is not solely advantageous for the Dangote Refinery but represents a long-overdue redirection in favour of local refining capacity and everyday Nigerians who have long suffered the consequences of an import-dependent energy system.

Dr. Manager described the decision as “the most patriotic intervention in Nigeria’s petroleum sector in recent history” and urged the new NNPCL leadership to align itself with the president’s reformist agenda.

“We must be clear, this policy is not about Dangote alone. It is about returning value to Nigerians, enabling refineries in Warri, Port Harcourt, and Kaduna to thrive, and ensuring that Nigerians are not perpetually held hostage to dollar-denominated fuel pricing,” Dr. Manager emphasised.

He further encouraged the new NNPCL board to strengthen collaborations with indigenous investors and local engineers to ensure the realisation of Nigeria’s refining ambitions.

“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,” Dr. Manager concluded.