FG intervenes in NNPCL-funded projects 
Four months after a major leadership shake-up at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), internal divisions have deepened as reforms introduced by the new administration trigger sharp disagreements among top executives amid allegations of corruption and mismanagement.
 
However, President Bola Tinubu, through the Ministry of Works, has intervened in the ongoing concerns surrounding the potential discontinuation of funding for road infrastructure projects under the NNPCL Tax Credit Scheme.
 
Sources familiar with developments within the national oil company told The Guardian that the recent controversies, including the alleged chartering of private jets, were not isolated incidents but part of longstanding corporate practices.
 
The sources also told The Guardian that NNPCL’s top management, including the board and political stakeholders, appeared divided over a power tussle and interests.
 
Last Friday, a coalition including OilWatch Nigeria, Workers’ Rights Alliance, and Concerned Citizens protested in Abuja, demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Bayo Ojulari, over a $21 million scandal.

The groups claimed that a close associate of the GCEO confessed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that the money, equivalent to N34.65 billion, was not his but allegedly belonged to Ojulari.
 
“This is not a mere financial discrepancy. This amount could transform infrastructure, health and education in this country,” the group said, announcing a three-day protest from August 1, 2025, at the National Assembly, NNPCL headquarters and EFCC offices in Abuja.
 
These developments follow reports from TheCable suggesting Tinubu was dissatisfied with Ojulari’s performance. 
  
Though rumours of his resignation have circulated, insiders say he remains in office, but likely not for long.
 
Ojulari’s connections with AA&R Investment Group, a company allegedly involved in the fund transfer and whose managing director is the son-in-law of Atiku Abubakar, have raised political questions. 
 
A senior insider, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that flying private jets for official engagements had been customary at the NNPC for years. In fact, the last board meeting under the previous administration was allegedly held in Dubai, with another overseas meeting planned before the leadership transition.
 
The storm, insiders say, was flagged because some players, especially within the company and from some parts of the country, were unhappy over recent reforms. 
 
Management of the company, headed by Ojulari, had allegedly hired about three private jets for a meeting in Kigali and another one for a meeting in Vienna, using a company linked to Atiku’s son-in-law. 
 
The insiders argue that the contractor in question had long-standing ties with the company, dating back to the tenure of former managers of the company. The jet operator was reportedly on retainer before Ojulari’s appointment, and although he is believed to be well-connected, the present leadership was not responsible for his inclusion in NNPCL’s vendor pool.
 
The source tied the uproar to internal power struggles within the company, noting that board members appear increasingly split over the direction of reforms introduced under Ojulari. 
 
While some staff welcomed new policies, particularly the more merit-based promotion system that replaced automatic advancements for senior staff, others have pushed back, feeling sidelined.
 
The source said Ojulari, who had apologised to staff at a town hall meeting over the first appointment he made, had insisted promotions must now be subjected to interviews, which many see as a break from the past. The interview has already been held, and employees are awaiting the final decision. 
 
Last week, allegations surfaced that large sums of money tied to internal projects were rerouted following a dispute between senior officials.
 
According to one insider, a power struggle over financial control led to a change in how funds were handled. A key figure, previously in charge of overseeing the disbursements, was allegedly bypassed, prompting a report to EFCC. In response, the EFCC reportedly froze a related account, allegedly with the President’s knowledge.
 
Meanwhile, the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, during a high-level engagement on July 31, 2025, in Abuja with contractors, reaffirmed that the present administration was committed to infrastructure development and assured stakeholders of continuous funding and guaranteed that no project would be abandoned.
 
In a statement released by the Director of Press and Public Affairs, Mohammed Ahmed, the minister cleared the air on the issue of unpaid certificates under the NNPCL Tax Credit Scheme and dispelled fears within the contractor community. 
 
“He clarified that the majority of projects under NNPCL’s funding will remain unaffected. Further, he assured the contractors, particularly those working on concession-bound roads, that before such projects are handed over to prospective concessionaires, who have proof of funds and capacity to perform, all debts and outstanding entitlements to such contractors will be fully paid for.”
 
According to the statement, Umahi directed that all contractors and field officers return to the sites and resume work immediately.
 
He emphasised that updated project documentation, including revised scopes for critical corridors like the Lokoja/Benin Dual Carriageway and all other projects, must be submitted within seven days. He warned that inaccurate data submissions could result in project misinformation and delays in execution.