Members of the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Forum (NDENYLF) on Wednesday staged a bold demonstration at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) headquarters in Abuja, accusing the company of corrupt practices and the wrongful dismissal of Niger Delta directors.
The protesters called for the immediate resignation of NNPC Ltd.’s Group CEO, Bashir Ojulari, citing allegations of mismanagement.
“They arrived in large numbers, blocking the entrance and exit gates of the NNPC Towers, chanting solidarity songs and displaying banners with messages demanding accountability,” a source reported. One banner prominently read, “Replace the GCEO for alleged corruption.”
The group further insisted on the appointment of a Niger Delta indigene as the new Group CEO and the reinstatement of sacked regional employees, alongside the urgent reopening of the Port Harcourt Refinery.
The protest caused significant disruptions, with vehicular traffic halted and NNPC workers forced to park far from the premises. Security personnel worked to maintain order and ensure smoother traffic flow.
“We saw security agents engaging the protesters, appealing for calm,” an eyewitness noted.
Following a closed-door meeting with NNPC Ltd. management, the youth leaders temporarily halted the demonstration.
President of the Oro Youth Movement (OYOM),
Comrade Edet Eyo, stated, “The management promised to address our demands, so we’ve decided to consult with our members and suspend the protest for now.”
Normalcy has since returned to the area. ( NAN)
