The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Mr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, has sounded the alarm over what he describes as coordinated attempts to derail the company’s anti-corruption drive and transformation agenda.
Speaking during his first town hall meeting with employees at the NNPC Towers in Abuja, Ojulari who took over from Mele Kyari following his dismissal by President Bola Tinubu on April 2 highlighted ongoing efforts to undermine the company’s reform initiatives.
In a statement issued by NNPC Ltd on Friday, the company revealed it had uncovered a targeted misinformation campaign allegedly orchestrated by a group of internal and external actors determined to discredit the new leadership.
“NNPC Ltd has identified a coordinated sabotage campaign led by both known and anonymous individuals within and outside the organisation. Their objective is to spread falsehoods and undermine the company’s transformation efforts aimed at building a transparent, efficient, and corruption-free national energy entity, in alignment with the President’s vision,” the statement read.
According to NNPC Ltd, these actors are using fabricated and sensational reports to mislead the public and distract management from its goals.
“These calculated actions stem from those who feel threatened by the reforms bringing greater transparency and accountability,” the statement added. “Their aim is to stall progress and sow doubt among stakeholders.”
Despite the alleged sabotage, the company’s leadership reaffirmed its commitment to the reform process and warned that further smear campaigns were likely.
“We expect more false and defamatory content to surface in the coming days. But let it be known: these efforts will not derail our transformation journey. We call on staff, partners, and patriotic Nigerians to remain focused and resolute.”
The statement ended with a strong call for unity and determination, emphasizing that the transformation of Nigeria’s flagship energy company is irreversible.
NNPC Ltd has yet to name a new spokesperson following the recent resignation of Olufemi Soneye last Saturday.
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