The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mr. Bayo Ojulari, resumed duties on Monday morning, putting to rest widespread speculation about his alleged resignation.

Ojulari was sighted at the NNPC Towers in Abuja at about 9:35 a.m., quelling reports that he had stepped down from his position late last week.

A reliable security source familiar with the development confirmed that the embattled executive was at his desk and attending to official duties.

“At about 0935 hours, Bayo Ojulari, GCEO NNPCL, reported to the office. He is currently engaged in his usual official responsibilities,” the source said.

The source added that an internal memo had been circulated within the company, urging staff to disregard the reports of Ojulari’s purported resignation circulating on social media. However, no further details were provided regarding the GCEO’s brief absence or his sudden reappearance.

Rumours of Ojulari’s resignation emerged over the weekend, sparking confusion within the oil and gas industry. Until his reappearance on Monday, there had been no official communication from the company to confirm or debunk the claims.

Appointed on April 2, 2025, by President Bola Tinubu as part of a major restructuring of NNPCL’s leadership, Ojulari has remained largely inaccessible to the media during his five-month tenure. His public silence has been compounded by the resignation of the company’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Mr. Olufemi Soneye, on June 21, 2025.

Since Soneye’s departure, NNPCL has yet to announce a replacement, leaving the Corporate Communications Department without a formal spokesperson. As a result, all inquiries to the department regarding Ojulari’s alleged resignation went unanswered.

Media access to the NNPC Towers has also become increasingly restricted. Journalists are now required to present physical invitation letters and have their names cleared by security ahead of entry. Without direct clearance from a hosting official, access is typically denied—further limiting the media’s ability to obtain timely information from the company.

Repeated efforts by journalists to reach Ojulari for comment, including multiple calls and WhatsApp messages, were unsuccessful as of press time.

However, a senior official within the NNPCL, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said:

“Bashir Bayo Ojulari has not resigned, contrary to reports in some online media. I’m not authorised to speak to the press, and unfortunately, we currently have no spokesperson. It’s a sad situation that has disrupted operations. Ojulari was just settling into the role. Hopefully, we can put this behind us and restore normalcy.”

Further developments are expected as the company works to clarify its leadership situation and restore public confidence.