By Charles Pemu 
Abuja — The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mr. Bayo Ojulari, resumed duties at the company’s headquarters on Monday, effectively dispelling widespread rumours of his alleged resignation.
Ojulari was reported to have arrived at the NNPC Towers in Abuja at approximately 9:35 a.m., engaging in his routine official duties. His appearance at the office comes amid unverified reports over the weekend suggesting he had resigned from his position.
A security source familiar with the development confirmed Ojulari’s presence, stating: “At about 0935 hours, Bayo Ojulari, GCEO NNPCL, reported to the office. He is currently attending to his usual official engagements. Meanwhile, staff have been directed via internal memo to disregard any social media reports regarding his purported resignation.”
While neither Ojulari nor the company has officially addressed the reports, his return to work appears to have quelled speculations about a possible exit.
Appointed on April 2, 2025, by President Bola Tinubu as part of a major leadership overhaul at the state-owned oil company, Ojulari has kept a low media profile during his first months in office.
Communication at the NNPC has faced growing criticism, especially following the June 21 resignation of the company’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Mr. Olufemi Soneye. Since then, the department has lacked a publicly designated spokesperson, complicating media access and fueling speculation over internal affairs.
Over the years, access to the NNPC Towers has become increasingly restricted, with journalists and visitors now requiring physical invitations and prior clearance for entry. The absence of a corporate communications lead has made verifying reports even more challenging.
Efforts to reach Ojulari for comment have so far been unsuccessful. Calls and messages to his phone on Sunday and Monday were not returned.
However, an internal source at the NNPCL, speaking under condition of anonymity, said: “Bashir Bayo Ojulari has not resigned, contrary to some online media claims. We don’t have a spokesperson to clarify things yet, and I’m not permitted to speak officially, but I can tell you this situation has disrupted workflow unnecessarily.”
The source added that Ojulari was still settling into his role and expressed hope that normalcy would be restored soon so the company could focus on its strategic objectives.