By Habeeb Ibrahim
President Bola Tinubu has removed Mele Kyari as Group Chief Executive Officer and Pius Akinyelure as Chairman of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), along with other board members. The decision, announced on April 2, 2025, introduces Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the new Group CEO and Ahmadu Musa Kida as the non-executive chairman.
This restructuring is significant for NNPCL employees and stakeholders, many of whom have seen several leadership transitions in recent years. The oil and gas sector continues to play a crucial role in Nigeria’s economy, and there are high expectations for the new board to ensure stability and progress.
According to Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the new 11-member board includes professionals from diverse backgrounds, carefully selected to represent Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. They include: Bello Rabiu (North West), Yusuf Usman (North East), Babs Omotowa (North Central), Austin Avuru (South-South), David Ige (South West), and Henry Obih (South East)
Additionally, Mrs. Lydia Shehu Jafiya from the Federal Ministry of Finance and Aminu Ahmed from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources will serve as board representatives.
Mele Kyari’s tenure at NNPC Limited included efforts to rehabilitate Nigeria’s refineries, though challenges persisted. Bashir Ojulari, his successor, previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy Company.
Ahmadu Musa Kida, the newly appointed board chairman, has experience in the oil sector and previously served as President of the Nigerian Basketball Federation.
The Tinubu administration has set targets for NNPCL, including attracting $30 billion in investment by 2027 and increasing crude oil production to two million barrels per day. Gas production is expected to reach 8 billion cubic feet daily within the same period.
Employees and industry experts will observe how Ojulari and his team meet these goals. While leadership restructuring has occurred, implementing policies that benefit workers and local communities is the next step.
Tinubu acknowledged the contributions of the outgoing board, particularly their role in rehabilitating Nigeria’s refineries.
