A coalition of Niger Delta youth leaders on Wednesday stormed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Towers in Abuja, demanding the resignation of the Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, over alleged corruption and mismanagement.
The protesters, who arrived as early as 6 a.m., blocked the entrances and exits of the NNPCL Towers, disrupting activities at the company’s headquarters. Carrying banners with bold inscriptions, they chanted solidarity songs, with music blasting from speakers mounted on a truck stationed near the building.
Their demands also included the appointment of an indigene of the Niger Delta region as the next GCEO of the oil giant, stressing that the region deserved fair representation in the company’s leadership.
The demonstration caused heavy traffic gridlock along the busy Herbert Macaulay Way in Abuja’s Central Business District. Security operatives, including men of the Nigeria Police Force, were quickly deployed to the scene to maintain order. They pleaded with the protesters to remain peaceful while diverting traffic to one lane of the dual carriageway leading to the Towers.
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Workers and visitors were forced to park several meters away as protesters occupied the main gates. However, following the intervention of a representative of the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the youths agreed to clear the highway. This allowed security operatives to reopen the second lane, easing traffic congestion.
Despite the disruption, the protest remained largely peaceful, with no reports of violence.
