The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) is once again under scrutiny following revelations that its Group Chief Executive Officer, Bashir Ojulari, chartered private jets for a high-level trip to Brazil—barely two months after a controversial luxury retreat in Kigali, Rwanda.
According to insider reports obtained by SaharaReporters, Ojulari authorized the use of multiple private aircraft to transport NNPC board members and senior executives to Brazil for undisclosed engagements. This latest development comes on the heels of the June retreat in Rwanda, where the NNPC reportedly booked out the upscale Kigali Marriott Hotel, with room rates ranging from $173 to nearly $3,800 per night.
Sources within the Presidency and NNPC have expressed concern over the optics of such extravagant spending, especially amid Nigeria’s ongoing economic challenges and public outcry over fuel subsidy removal. Critics argue that the jet-setting lifestyle of the NNPC leadership starkly contrasts with the company’s mandate to operate transparently and efficiently.
The Brazil trip coincides with President Bola Tinubu’s own visit to the country for bilateral talks and a business forum with Brazilian investors. However, the timing and scale of the NNPC delegation’s travel have raised questions about fiscal discipline and accountability within the state-owned oil giant.
Ojulari, appointed in April 2025, has faced mounting pressure over his leadership style, including allegations of incoherent policy statements and mismanagement of refinery operations. Calls for his resignation have intensified, with some reports suggesting he was asked to step down by the Presidency following the Kigali scandal.