The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has a new captain at the helm; Bashir Ojulari, a technocrat with Exxon roots, stepping in after Mele Kyari’s rollercoaster tenure. But what do Nigerians think of this shake-up? We’ve rounded up the chatter, and it’s a mixed bag of hope, doubt, and déjà vu.
Some see Ojulari as a breath of fresh air. “He’s not an NNPC lifer steeped in old games,” one reader cheers. “His global experience could finally get our refineries humming and fuel prices down.” Optimists point to his outsider status as a chance to break from decades of mismanagement; think less debt, more delivery. Could he be the hero to tame Nigeria’s oil beast?
Not everyone’s sold. “Same story, different suit,” a skeptic scoffs. “NNPC’s too rotten for one man to fix; Ojulari is just the latest poster boy.” Critics argue the system is rigged, with corruption and politics ready to swallow any reformer whole. Kyari tried and stumbled; why should this be different?
Then there is the regional angle. “North Central finally gets a shot!” a supporter beams, praising the pick as a nod to fairness. But others smell a political play: “Is he here to lead or just to balance the books for Tinubu’s allies?” Competence matters, they say, not geography.
The clock is ticking for Ojulari to prove his mettle. Will he pump progress into NNPC or get stuck in the same muck? One thing’s clear: Nigerians are watching and they are not holding their breath. What is your take; savior or flop? Drop your thoughts below!