Civil Society Group Demands NNPCL CEO’s Resignation Over $3.5 Billion Refinery Spending

A coalition of civil society organisations, operating under the Civic Centre for Independent Forensic Activists, has called for the immediate resignation of Bayo Ojulari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). The demand follows mounting concerns over the spending of $3.5 billion on refinery rehabilitation and a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Chinese firms.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the group’s Executive Director, Edward Abakpa, said the lack of transparency around the funds has eroded public trust. He noted that the money was reportedly spent on the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries, but the facilities have not delivered consistent fuel production.

“The central issue is accountability,” Abakpa said. “Nigerians deserve a detailed explanation of how over $3.5 billion was utilised, what work was completed, and why the refineries remain largely non-functional.”

New Chinese Partnership Raises Questions

The controversy deepened after NNPCL signed an MoU with two Chinese companies: Sanjiang Chemical Company Limited and Xingcheng Industrial Park Operation and Management Company Limited. The agreement covers refinery rehabilitation, operations, maintenance, and possible infrastructure expansion.

Civil society groups fear the deal could shift control of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector without adequate public disclosure. They questioned how the Chinese firms were selected and what the long-term implications are for Nigeria’s energy sovereignty.

“We cannot build new partnerships on a foundation of unresolved questions,” Abakpa added. “Every new deal will be viewed with suspicion until Nigerians are told exactly what happened to the $3.5 billion already spent.”

Call for National Assembly Probe

The group urged the National Assembly to launch a public investigation into all refinery rehabilitation contracts awarded since 2015. It wants a full review of contractor performance, disbursement records, project outcomes, and funding sources.

Anti-corruption agencies have also been asked to examine possible procurement breaches and financial leakages linked to the projects.

Abakpa said the repeated pattern of huge spending with little operational output reflects a deeper governance crisis. “It is unacceptable that after spending more than $3.5 billion, there is still no clear, commercially viable output from these facilities,” he said.

The organisation maintained that restoring confidence in Nigeria’s oil sector requires transparency and stronger leadership. It renewed its call for Ojulari’s resignation, arguing that accountability must start at the top.

Legit.ng earlier reported that NNPCL signed the MoU with the Chinese firms in Jiaxing City, China, as part of efforts to revive the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries. The two refineries have reportedly consumed over $2.4 billion in public funds without delivering significant refined fuel output.