ABUJA, Nigeria — A coalition of Niger Delta youth leaders staged a protest on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Towers in Abuja, demanding the resignation of the Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, over alleged corruption and mismanagement.
The demonstrators, who arrived at the company’s headquarters around 6 a.m., blocked entry and exit points, effectively paralysing access to the building.
They carried banners with bold inscriptions, chanting solidarity songs as a local orchestra and loudspeakers mounted on a truck provided continuous music.
The youths also called for the appointment of an indigene of the Niger Delta region as the next GCEO of the NNPCL, arguing that the region’s role as the hub of Nigeria’s oil wealth should be reflected in the company’s leadership.
Traffic Disruption and Security Response
The protest caused heavy traffic gridlock on Herbert Macaulay Way in Abuja’s Central Business District.
Security agents, including police officers deployed in large numbers, diverted vehicles to one lane of the dual carriageway while urging protesters to remain peaceful.
Many NNPCL workers were forced to park their vehicles far from the complex and walk to the office.
Following an intervention by a representative of the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the protesters agreed to vacate the highway and mass at the exit gate of the towers.
This allowed authorities to reopen the blocked lane and ease the traffic build-up.
Peaceful but Firm
Despite the disruption, the demonstration remained peaceful, with security operatives maintaining close watch.
The coalition vowed to sustain pressure until their demands — including Ojulari’s resignation and Niger Delta representation at the helm of the NNPCL — are addressed.
The NNPCL has yet to issue an official response to the protest.
