The Alliance of Nigerian Lawyers and Civil Society Advocates has launched a fervent campaign to stop what it describes as a “sinister plot” by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), led by Group Chief Executive Officer Bayo Ojulari, to sell the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries as scrap.
Speaking during a rally held in Abuja on Monday, Dr. Kemi Babalola, representing the Alliance’s legal arm. said the group is staging protests at the National Assembly, NNPCL headquarters, Ministry of Justice, US Embassy, and British High Commission in Abuja, demanding accountability and an immediate halt to the proposed sale of these critical national assets.
The refineries, with Port Harcourt and Kaduna at 80% completion and Warri at 60%, are close to operational status, yet the Alliance accused Mr. Ojulari of orchestrating their sabotage to justify selling them to cronies at undervalued prices.
“These refineries, built and rehabilitated with taxpayers’ money, are not scrap but vital to Nigeria’s energy security,” said Dr. Babalola, adding that “Ojulari’s actions, including shutting down the fully functional Port Harcourt refinery in May 2025 for so-called maintenance, are deliberate attempts to undermine their progress.”
She outlined several allegations against Ojulari, including unlawfully pushing to sell the refineries without legal authority, violating the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 and Section 44(3) of the 1999 Constitution, which vests ownership of such assets in the Federation.
She further accused him of mismanagement, favoritism in diverting crude oil to private refineries, and misleading President Bola Tinubu by claiming the facilities are irreparable.
“Ojulari’s leadership is a betrayal of public trust, risking elite capture of assets meant for all Nigerians,” said Mustapha Ibrahim, a civil society advocate”, she said.
Also speaking at the venue of the rally, a civil society advocate, Mr. Mustapha Ibrahim, cited the Port Harcourt refinery’s proven capacity to produce 1.4 million liters of gasoline daily before its abrupt shutdown as evidence of sabotage.
“Why halt a refinery that was working, only to label it irreparable?” Mr. Ibrahim questioned, saying: “This is a calculated move to sell off assets nearing completion for personal gain.”
Mr. Ibrahim also invoked several legal frameworks to support the group’s demands, including the PIA 2021, which requires transparent processes for asset disposal, and the EFCC Act 2004, which empowers investigations into financial crimes.
He also referenced the Public Trust Doctrine and the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, accusing Ojulari of breaching his fiduciary duty. “His unilateral actions are not only ultra vires but potentially criminal,” Ibrahim stated.
According to him, the group’s demands include an immediate suspension of any sale plans, an EFCC probe into NNPCL’s leadership, and legislative oversight by the National Assembly to verify the refineries’ completion status.
He also called for a travel ban on Ojulari by international bodies like the US Embassy and British High Commission, accusing him of undermining Nigeria’s interests. Additionally, the group proposed a public forum to explore public-private partnerships, citing Brazil’s Petrobras as a model for refinery revitalization.
“From July 21 to 24, we will stand firm at these key locations, armed with the law and the will of the Nigerian people,” he declared, adding that “These refineries, so close to full operation, must not be sold off as scrap to enrich a few.”
He therefore, appealed to President Bola Tinubu to halt this unlawful sale of national assets and ensuring the refineries serve the people, saying “you will cement your legacy as Nigeria’s emancipator
He pledged that the group will continue to support President Tinubu’s agenda while urging swift action to protect the nation’s energy sector.