Industry sources have dismissed allegations linking the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Bayo Ojulari, to the award of an oil block or marginal field, describing the claims as false and inconsistent with Nigeria’s petroleum laws.

The sources said Ojulari neither participated in the licensing process nor had the statutory authority to award oil blocks or petroleum licences.

They explained that under the Petroleum Industry Act, upstream licensing is administered by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), while the authority to grant Petroleum Prospecting Licences rests with the Minister of Petroleum Resources.

According to them, Ojulari therefore did not conduct the bidding process, assess applicants, select successful bidders or approve the allocation of any oil block.

The clarification followed allegations by a group known as the Oil and Gas Professionals Forum (OGPF), which claimed that a company allegedly linked to Ojulari’s wife benefited from the award of a marginal oil field.

The industry sources, however, said the group had not presented corporate records, beneficial ownership documents, licensing papers or other verifiable evidence to substantiate the alleged connection.

They further alleged that the claims were part of an effort by interests opposed to reforms being implemented under Ojulari’s leadership to undermine his credibility and pressure him out of office.

According to the sources, some commercial interests have been affected by measures introduced by the NNPC leadership, including tighter financial controls, cost-cutting initiatives, increased transparency and reviews of existing commercial arrangements.

One senior industry official described the allegations as an attempt to hold Ojulari responsible for a licensing process over which he had no regulatory or decision-making authority.

The sources also said Ojulari had complied with applicable asset-declaration and Code of Conduct requirements, adding that claims concerning his family’s alleged involvement in an oil-block award could be tested against official corporate and licensing records.

Since assuming office, Ojulari has reportedly focused on improving NNPC’s commercial efficiency, strengthening corporate governance, reducing operational costs and increasing accountability in the company’s transactions.

The sources argued that the reforms had disrupted some established interests and could explain the recent criticism directed at the NNPC chief executive.

They maintained that the allegations should be evaluated against official licensing and corporate records rather than unverified claims, insisting that NNPC Ltd does not possess the statutory power to award oil blocks in Nigeria.