The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has raised the alarm over what it described as a “coordinated sabotage campaign” orchestrated by a network of internal and external actors aimed at undermining its leadership and reform efforts.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its management, the national oil company alleged that a syndicate comprising both known and faceless individuals—within and outside the organisation—is actively spreading “lies and misinformation” to derail NNPC’s transformation into a transparent and performance-driven entity.
“These are calculated efforts by those who feel threatened by reform, transparency, accountability, and change,” the statement noted, warning that defamatory reports targeting senior executives may intensify in the coming weeks.
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NNPC accused the alleged saboteurs of “planting scandalous and fabricated reports” designed to distract the company’s executive team, mislead the public, and weaken staff morale. Although the company did not name specific individuals or organisations, it described the campaign as a direct assault on President Bola Tinubu’s mandate to overhaul the state-owned enterprise.
Since its transition into a limited liability company under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) in 2021—following the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act—NNPC has undergone significant restructuring. This transformation accelerated in 2023 and 2024, with a renewed focus on transparency, profitability, and eliminating legacy debts and opaque trading practices.
Industry observers note that the ongoing reforms have disrupted long-standing interests within the crude-for-fuel swap arrangements, pipeline surveillance contracts, and the downstream product marketing chain—areas historically linked to corruption and inefficiency.
Despite anticipating what it described as an “emerging smear campaign,” NNPC said it remains undeterred. The company called on staff, stakeholders, and all patriotic Nigerians to disregard the “noise” and stay focused on supporting the transformation of Nigeria’s foremost energy institution.
The statement did not indicate whether NNPC intends to pursue legal action against those it accuses of sabotage. As of press time, efforts to reach company officials for further comment were unsuccessful.
In response to the situation, NNPC is expected to strengthen internal security protocols and improve communication channels to protect staff from disinformation. Civil society organisations are also likely to increase scrutiny over how the company substantiates or fails to substantiate its claims. At the legislative level, the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) has recently shown interest in deeper oversight of NNPC’s commercial operations, potentially intensifying national focus on the sabotage allegations.
For now, the company remains resolute. “No amount of sabotage will stop it,” the statement affirmed.
