Business
The Enemy Within: On NNPCL GMD Bayo Ojulari’s Frenemies
By Lanre Alfred
I have often said that the most dangerous wars are not fought in the deserts of Sambisa or the swamps of the Niger Delta; they are planned over champagne glasses in Maitama lounges, perfected in the conspiratorial corners of Abuja cocktail parties and waged in polished boardrooms.
Power in Nigeria is never left unchallenged, and if you imagine that enemies disappear because you survived one storm, then you are already courting disaster.
Which is why I find myself deeply unsettled by what I hear whispered in hushed tones about Bayo Ojulari, the Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL)....click link for details
He believes, so I hear, that the storm around him has passed. He assumes that because he has not been dragged into yet another public scandal in recent weeks, the vultures have abandoned their hunt.
Nothing could be further from the truth. If anything, the vultures are circling closer, hungrier, and deadlier than before.
And I say this with the conviction of one who has lived long enough in high society’s theatre of intrigue to know that the fiercest daggers are not wielded by enemies at the gate but by friends at the table.
The storm around Ojulari is not over, it has only gone underground. The cabal that once sought his head has not retired to the shadows in defeat; they have regrouped, reorganised, and this time, their playbook is sharper.
The story making the rounds in select Abuja drawing rooms is chilling. A high-ranking member of Ojulari’s own management team, yes, a man who sits across from him in meetings, who addresses him as “sir” with practiced deference, has now become the lead conspirator. This individual, from what I am told, has positioned himself as the mole, the inside man, feeding external traducers with information, documents, and ammunition that could destabilise Ojulari’s tenure.
This is the cruel irony of power: the most dangerous enemy is always the one who knows your schedule, your weaknesses, your blind spots. I do not envy Ojulari. Imagine sitting in a boardroom, trading jokes with a man who has already drafted your obituary in the corridors of influence.
But Abuja is Abuja. Here, betrayal is not a character flaw; it is a survival tactic. And if Ojulari is not yet fully awake to this reality, then the next ambush may very well end his career.
Unlike the first round of attacks, which were noisy and visible, this fresh batch of assaults is being fine-tuned to be surgical. I have heard whispers of dossiers, files thick with allegations, some perhaps exaggerated, others entirely fabricated.
These dossiers, according to insiders, are being prepared to be leaked to the media and the power brokers who matter, those who have the ears of President Bola Tinubu.
And make no mistake, Abuja thrives on perception. In this city, a rumour repeated often enough acquires the texture of fact. A rumour in Asokoro can become a headline in Lagos within 24 hours. By the time Ojulari hears the story, it may already be too late.
Pundits are quick to say this is the cabal fighting back. And they are right. Nigeria’s oil and gas industry has never been a playground for the fainthearted. The entrenched interests who feel sidelined by Ojulari’s policies are not the type to lick their wounds quietly. They are used to getting their way; they are used to cutting deals in the dark. For them, Ojulari is an inconvenient roadblock, a man whose tenure threatens the delicate balance of influence that has lined pockets for decades.
So, of course, they want him out. And, of course, they will not stop until they achieve it. But the intrigue takes a darker twist when you consider the speculation that if Ojulari has soiled his hands even slightly; by signing off on a questionable contract, overlooking a misstep, or failing to cover his tracks, the cabal will weaponise that evidence against him. In other words, if he has given them a nail, they will build a coffin around it.
What unsettles me most is not the cabal, it is the fact that the betrayal is internal. Abuja society is full of stories like this. I recall a certain parastatal head who, believing he had defeated his enemies, threw a lavish party at the Hilton, only to discover months later that the man leading the charge to remove him was the “loyal subordinate” who toasted him at the event. History is full of such tragedies.
The lesson is simple: the enemy within is always deadlier than the enemy outside. Outside enemies may threaten, but inside enemies are deadlier.
If I were in Ojulari’s shoes, I would not sleep with both eyes shut. I would first tighten my house, conduct loyalty checks, and identify the moles. It is not paranoia, it is survival. Every empire has fallen because the emperor trusted the wrong man at the wrong time.
Second, Ojulari must embrace transparency like a shield. The moment a fresh rumour or narrative is launched, he must counter it with facts. Delay is fatal. In Abuja’s gossip economy, silence is rarely golden; it is a death sentence.
Third, and perhaps most importantly, he must reposition himself as indispensable to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s larger economic reforms. Because in this city, relevance trumps innocence. If Tinubu sees him as integral to his oil and gas vision, the cabal’s darts may bruise but they will not bury him.
Permit me, at this juncture, a detour into the cocktail circuit, because that is where much of this war is being plotted. I was recently at a dinner in Maitama where a senator leaned over his wine glass and said, “Ojulari does not know what is coming.” The table chuckled knowingly. This is how Abuja operates; wars are fought with official memos and in coded jokes at private dinners.
In Wuse II lounges, among the city’s nouveau riche, the talk is already that Ojulari is a marked man. Some believe he will not last the year; others insist Tinubu will protect him because “Baba does not like to be seen as succumbing to blackmail.” But the fact that his fate is a topic of casual conversation at high-society gatherings tells you everything; you are only safe in Abuja when nobody is talking about you.
Ojulari’s case is a reminder of how fragile power is in Nigeria. Today, you are celebrated with front-page photographs and glowing press releases. Tomorrow, you are the subject of a leaked dossier, your name smeared in WhatsApp groups, your allies deserting you one by one.
I remember the story of a certain former minister, a man once hailed as the “star boy” of his administration. One day, he was the darling of the President; the next, he was left out in the cold, betrayed by those he thought loyal. Abuja does not do permanent friends, it only does permanent interests.
And so, I return to my refrain: the storm is not over. It has only gone quiet, and quiet storms are the deadliest. Bayo Ojulari must not be lulled into a false sense of security. The enemy is not at the gate, the enemy is in his team. And unless he sharpens his instincts, fortifies his alliances, and stays two steps ahead, he may yet be unceremoniously booted out of office.
Source: Thecapitalng
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has signed a fresh agreement with two Chinese firms in a move aimed at accelerating the long-delayed rehabilitation and commercial restart of Nigeria’s refineries, while opening a new window for technical equity partnerships.
The deal, structured as a Memorandum of Understanding, was signed with Sanjiang Chemical Company Limited and Xingcheng (Fuzhou) Industrial Park Operation and Management Co. Ltd, marking what the national oil company described as a “critical milestone” in its refinery transformation drive.
The agreement was executed in Jiaxing City, China, on April 30, 2026, by the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, alongside the Chairman of Sanjiang Chemical Company, Guan Jianzhong, and Chairman of Xingcheng Industrial Park, Bill Bi.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, Andy Odeh, the MoU sets the stage for a potential Technical Equity Partnership aimed at completing outstanding work at the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, as well as ensuring their long-term operational efficiency.
The statement read, “The NNPC Ltd has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two Chinese companies, Sanjiang Chemical Company Limited and Xingcheng (Fuzhou) Industrial Park Operation and Management Co. Ltd, for collaboration through a potential Technical Equity Partnership in support of the completion and operation of the Port Harcourt and Warri Refineries.”
The national oil firm said the collaboration would go beyond rehabilitation, extending into full-scale operation and maintenance of the facilities to achieve “best-in-class, sustainable performance.”
It added that the arrangement would also explore expansion projects that would reposition the refineries to produce cleaner fuels and higher-value petroleum products, in line with evolving global standards.
Ojulari, speaking shortly after the signing ceremony, described the agreement as the outcome of more than six months of intensive technical and commercial engagements between NNPC and the Chinese firms.
He said, “All parties recognise mutually beneficial opportunities for the development and long-term sustainable profitability of NNPC’s refining assets in Nigeria, and the collective weight required for success.”
The NNPC boss stressed that the MoU represents a transition from traditional contractor-led rehabilitation to a more performance-driven partnership model anchored on shared risks and returns.
He added, “This is an important step on the journey towards identifying potential technical equity partner or partners to restart and expand NNPC’s refineries, and to explore opportunities in co-located petrochemicals and gas-based industries.”
The shift to a technical equity model signals a strategic departure from past refinery turnaround maintenance programmes, many of which failed to deliver lasting results despite significant financial outlays.
Under the proposed framework, the Chinese partners are expected to bring not just engineering expertise, but also operational discipline and investment capacity, aligning their returns with the performance of the refineries.The scope of the collaboration, as outlined by NNPC, includes the development of co-located gas-based industrial hubs, which could transform the Port Harcourt and Warri complexes into integrated energy and petrochemical centres.
Such hubs are expected to unlock additional value from Nigeria’s vast gas reserves, while supporting domestic manufacturing and export-oriented industries.
The company noted that while the MoU reflects a shared intention to advance discussions in good faith, any binding agreements would be subject to regulatory approvals and the conclusion of detailed commercial negotiations.
The latest deal aligns with Ojulari’s earlier position at the Nigeria International Energy Summit 2026, where he openly canvassed for global technical partners to take equity positions in Nigeria’s refining assets.
At the summit, Ojulari had argued that Nigeria’s refining challenges were not just financial, but deeply technical and operational, requiring experienced partners with proven track records.
He said, “What we are doing differently is moving away from just funding projects to bringing in partners who have skin in the game, partners who will operate, optimise, and guarantee performance.”
He further explained that the technical equity model would ensure accountability and efficiency, as partners would only profit when the refineries perform optimally.
He stated, “The days of spending billions on rehabilitation without sustainable output are behind us. We are now focused on partnerships that deliver value, technology transfer, and operational excellence.”
Ojulari also highlighted the importance of integrating refining with petrochemicals and gas-based industries, noting that modern refineries globally are designed as energy hubs rather than standalone fuel-processing plants.
Refineries must evolve into integrated industrial platforms. That is where the future lies, petrochemicals, fertilizers, gas monetisation. That is how you create real economic value,” he said.
Nigeria’s state-owned refineries, located in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna, have suffered decades of underperformance, frequent shutdowns, and failed rehabilitation efforts, forcing the country to rely heavily on imported petroleum products.
Despite multiple turnaround maintenance projects, the facilities have consistently operated far below capacity, raising concerns over efficiency, transparency, and value for money.
The current administration has prioritised refinery revival as part of its broader energy security strategy, while also supporting private sector investments such as the Dangote Refinery.
The NNPC’s renewed push for technical equity partners comes amid growing pressure to reduce fuel import dependence, stabilise domestic supply, and conserve foreign exchange.
With this latest China deal, the national oil company appears to be betting on a new partnership model, one that ties investment returns directly to performance, in a bid to finally unlock the long-elusive potential of Nigeria’s refining sector.
Fresh pressure is building in Nigeria’s fuel market after Dangote Refinery raised the price of petrol and halted supply operations.
The development has triggered concerns among marketers and consumers, as the impact is expected to ripple across the country in the coming days.
The refinery increased its ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit by N75 per litre. This pushed the loading cost from N1,200 per litre to N1,275 per litre.
Coastal supply price was also adjusted upward to N1,215 per litre. The new pricing structure has already begun to influence activities in the downstream sector.
A senior official at the facility confirmed the adjustment. According to the official, “Yes, the increase of PMS to N1,275 per litre is true. Coastal price is N1,215.”
The confirmation puts to rest earlier uncertainty among marketers who had reported sudden changes in depot pricing.
At the same time, operations were disrupted after the refinery suspended its Proforma Invoice process. This system is critical for product allocation and loading schedules.
Sources familiar with the situation said the process was halted at about 4:00 pm on Tuesday. The decision affected the normal flow of transactions within the loading system.
The disruption immediately led to a pause in the sale of petrol and Automotive Gas Oil. Trucks waiting for loading were reportedly left stranded, while marketers struggled to secure fresh allocations. The halt in supply has created anxiety across distribution channels.
Nigeria’s credit sector has, in the space of just a few years, moved from a niche fintech offering to a mainstream financial tool used by millions.
A major driver of this surge is mostly limited access to traditional bank loans, and the speed at which digital platforms can deliver cash when it is needed most.
By mid-2025, the market will have expanded sharply, with approved digital lenders rising to about 425 as of May 2025, up from 320 a year earlier.
According to a 2024 report based on a five-year historical analysis, Nigeria’s online loan & credit platforms market is valued at approximately $600 million.
According to the report, recent market estimates indicate that Nigerian digital lending apps issued about 145 million loans worth over $2 billion in a recent year, reflecting the sector’s scale and consumer appetite for digital credit solutions
However, the speed and accessibility of digital loans have also created a crowded and uneven market, where hundreds of platforms compete with different pricing models, especially around one key factor that directly affects borrowers: interest rates.
Based on the list of approved digital lending platforms by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), this article ranks apps that offer monthly interest rates below 3%.
Here are 10 loan apps with the lowest interest rates in Q1 2026
10. Renmoney – 2.12% to 2.65% monthly interest rate
9. Nmoney – 2.4% monthly interest rate
8. Singacash – 2.4% monthly interest rate
7. Ease Cash – 2.1% monthly interest rate
6. Letshego – from 2% monthly interest rate
5. Futurecash –1.5% to 2.7% monthly interest rate
4. Flash Loan – 1.8% to 2.7% monthly interest rate
3. Airmoni – 1.5% monthly interest rate
2. True Loan –1.2%–2.7% daily interest rate
1. NiNiMoney – 0.3% monthly interest rate
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