Niger Delta youth leaders stormed the headquarters of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) in Abuja on Wednesday, demanding the resignation of the Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, over alleged corruption and mismanagement.
The protesters arrived at the NNPCL Towers as early as 6:00 a.m., blocking both entry and exit points of the building and disrupting operations. They also demanded that the leadership of the company go to an indigene of the Niger Delta, the region that hosts Nigeria’s oil resources.
Carrying banners and placards, the youths chanted solidarity songs. A local music group used loudspeakers mounted on a truck in front of the towers to amplify their message.
The demonstration caused heavy gridlock on Herbert Macaulay Way in the Central Business District. Security agencies, including the Nigerian Police, diverted traffic to a single lane. Meanwhile, security operatives urged the protesters to stay calm and avoid violence.
Many NNPCL staff could not access the premises, with several leaving their cars far from the office.
Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), intervened, persuading the protesters to vacate the highway. They later moved to the exit gate of the NNPCL Towers, which allowed security personnel to reopen the blocked lanes.
The protest ended peacefully after the relocation.
More updates are expected as the situation develops.