The Deputy Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has stated that Engr Bashir Bayo Ojulari transformed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) into an institution that now prioritises the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.

He spoke while addressing a select committee of the British Parliament on the Tinubu administration at the House of Lords in Westminster.

Agbese told the lawmakers that Ojulari’s leadership as the Group Chief Executive Officer had redirected NNPCL away from years of opacity, elite capture and systemic waste toward measurable results that benefit the wider population.

He described the changes as a rare example of institutional reform delivering tangible value to citizens rather than a privileged few.

Agbese said: “Ojulari has migrated NNPCL from an elites’ conspiracy of corruption to the saving grace of common citizens. What we are witnessing is not cosmetic reform.

“It is a deliberate effort to dismantle entrenched interests and rebuild the company as a national asset that serves the Nigerian people.

“Production has recovered, costs have been significantly reduced through rigorous contract reviews, and remittances to the Federation Account have become consistent.

“These represent resources that can fund infrastructure, security and social services felt by citizens across the country.”

The lawmaker highlighted key achievements under Ojulari, including the sharp rise in output from NNPC Exploration and Production Limited to multi-decade highs, the restoration of monthly financial and operational reporting, and progress on critical gas infrastructure such as the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano pipeline.

He noted that timely cash-call payments and improved transparency had restored confidence among joint-venture partners and international investors.

Agbese stressed that previous practices of delayed obligations, opaque contracting and poorly performing assets had drained public resources for years.

By contrast, he said, the current leadership had introduced commercial discipline, accountability and a clear focus on long-term value creation in line with the Petroleum Industry Act.

“When NNPCL operates as a true commercial entity instead of a political patronage structure, every Nigerian stands to gain,” Agbese said.

“Higher crude and gas production generates more foreign exchange and stronger Federation Account inflows that support the public services ordinary citizens rely on.

“The difficult decisions on loss-making refineries, the insistence on value-for-money in contracts, and the public disclosure of audited results show that the old culture of elite entitlement is being confronted. Ojulari has demonstrated that focused and courageous leadership can turn a troubled institution into a source of national strength.”

He further said that the reforms had begun attracting significant investment interest, citing pipelines of tens of billions of dollars linked to gas supply agreements and deepwater projects.

Agbese linked these developments to wider efforts to commercialise Nigeria’s gas resources and reduce over-reliance on crude oil.

The deputy spokesman urged sustained international partnership with the reformed national oil company, arguing that greater transparency and commercial credibility created a more reliable foundation for collaboration between Nigerian institutions and global energy stakeholders.

“What is happening at NNPCL today shows that meaningful reform is possible when leadership places the collective interest above sectional advantage,” Agbese said.

“The company is no longer structured primarily to serve a narrow elite. It is being repositioned as an engine that generates revenue, creates jobs and advances the aspirations of the wider citizenry.

“I encourage our international partners to recognise and engage this new reality. A transparent, efficient and commercially focused NNPCL strengthens energy security and opens partnership opportunities for all who share an interest in a stable and prosperous Nigeria.”

In his concluding remarks, Agbese emphasised that the progress recorded so far must be protected and deepened.

He described Ojulari’s tenure as a critical period in which habits of secrecy and waste were being replaced by measurable performance and public accountability.

The lawmaker expressed confidence that continued reform would further raise upstream output, accelerate gas commercialisation and ensure that the benefits of Nigeria’s hydrocarbon resources reach ordinary households rather than remaining concentrated among privileged networks.

“The true test of leadership is whether institutions serve the many or the few,” Agbese concluded. “Under Bayo Ojulari, NNPCL is beginning to pass that test.

“The shift from elite conspiracy to citizen-centred value creation is underway and must be sustained. Nigeria’s energy future depends on protecting this trajectory.”