The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has rejected calls for the removal of its Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, and the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Meyiwa Eyesan, following allegations of irregularities in the award of oil blocks.
The Oil and Gas Professionals Forum (OGPF) had accused both officials of overseeing questionable transactions and favoring associates in the recent oil licensing round conducted by the NUPRC. The group alleged that some of Ojulari’s associates, including a family member, benefited from insider influence. It also cited concerns over the sector’s performance as grounds for their removal.
In a statement issued on Saturday, NNPCL spokesperson Andy Odeh dismissed the claims and clarified that the company has no role in awarding oil blocks. The firm said that under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, the responsibility for conducting licensing rounds and allocating oil blocks lies solely with the NUPRC.
“NNPC Limited operates strictly as a commercial entity and has no regulatory or allocative authority,” the statement said.
NNPCL also highlighted improvements in oil production, noting a 6 percent increase to 1.67 million barrels per day in April 2026, up from 1.60 million barrels per day in 2025. Gas production, it added, rose by about 5 percent over the same period.
The company maintained that its performance reports are publicly available and warned that it may take action to protect its reputation against what it described as unsubstantiated allegations.
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