President Bola Tinubu has removed Mele Kyari as the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and dissolved its board in a sweeping overhaul of the national oil company.
The decision, effective April 2, 2025, was announced in a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, early Wednesday.
REASONS FOR THE SHAKE-UP
Citing the need for enhanced operational efficiency, restored investor confidence, and a more commercially viable NNPC, Tinubu invoked his powers under Section 59(2) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 to restructure the corporation.
As part of the overhaul, Bayo Ojulari takes over from Kyari as the new group CEO, while Ahmadu Musa Kida has been appointed as NNPC’s new non-executive
Additionally, Tinubu appointed six non-executive directors from each geopolitical zone:
- Bello Rabiu – North-West
- Yusuf Usman – North-East
- Babs Omotowa – North-Central
- Austin Avuru – South-South
- David Ige – South-West
- Henry Obih – South-East
Meanwhile, Lydia Shehu Jafiya, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, and Aminu Said Ahmed from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources will represent their ministries on the board.
“This restructuring is aimed at repositioning NNPC Limited for greater productivity and efficiency in line with global best practices. We are taking bold steps to transform the company into a more commercially driven and transparent entity,” the statement reads.
The changes take effect immediately, and the new board has been handed a strategic action plan, which includes a “review of NNPC-operated and Joint Venture Assets to ensure alignment with value maximisation objectives”.
Tinubu, who has prioritised investment-driven reforms in the oil sector, highlighted that since 2023, his administration has attracted $17 billion in new investments and is now targeting $30 billion by 2027and $60 billion by 2030.
The government also aims to raise crude oil production to two million barrels daily by 2027 and three million by 2030, alongside a gas production goal of 8 billion cubic feet daily by 2027 and 10 billion cubic feet by 2030.
“Furthermore, President Tinubu expects the new board to elevate NNPC’s share of crude oil refining output to 200,000 barrels by 2027 and reach 500,000 by 2030,” the statement added.
The administration has prioritised domestic refining capacity to reduce reliance on fuel imports and strengthen Nigeria’s energy security.
PROFILE OF THE NEW NNPC LEADERS
Ahmadu Musa Kida – New NNPC Chairman
Kida brings over 30 years of experience in the oil and gas sector. He is a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he earned a degree in Civil Engineering. He later obtained a postgraduate diploma in Petroleum Engineering from the Institut Francaise du Petrol (IFP), Paris.
He began his career at Elf Petroleum Nigeria before moving to Total Exploration and Production, where he rose to become Deputy Managing Director of Deep Water Services in 2015. Most recently, he served as an independent non-executive director at Pan Ocean-Newcross Group.
Bayo Ojulari – New Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO)
Ojulari, an indigene of Kwara State, studied Mechanical Engineering at Ahmadu Bello University.
He began his career at Elf Aquitaine before joining Shell Petroleum Development Company in 1991 as an Associate Production Technologist.
His expertise spans petroleum process engineering, strategic planning, and field development. In 2015, he was appointed Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO).
Until his latest appointment, he was Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer at Renaissance Africa Energy, leading a $2.4 billion acquisition of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC).
Tinubu Thanks Outgoing Board Members
President Tinubu expressed gratitude to the outgoing board members, acknowledging their role in rehabilitating the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, which resumed production after prolonged shutdowns.
“President Tinubu thanked the old board members for their dedicated service to NNPC Limited, particularly their efforts in rehabilitating the old Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, which enabled them to resume petroleum product production after prolonged shutdowns. He wished them well in their future endeavors,” the statement read.
This major shake-up signals Tinubu’s determination to reform Nigeria’s oil sector, restore investor confidence, and drive growth in the industry. With a new leadership team in place, NNPC is expected to undergo significant transformations to enhance efficiency, boost oil and gas production, and reduce reliance on fuel imports.
