Our reporter
President Bola Tinubu has overhauled the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, appointing Bashir Ojulari as the new Group Chief Executive Officer and Ahmadu Kida as the Non-Executive Chairman.
The restructuring, announced by the President’s Special Adviser on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, aligns with Section 59(2) of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021. It is aimed at improving the company’s operational efficiency, restoring investor confidence, enhancing local content, and driving economic growth through gas commercialisation and diversification.
As part of the shake-up, former Chairman Pius Akinyelure and Group CEO Mele Kyari, along with all other board members appointed in November 2023, have been relieved of their positions.
Ojulari, who hails from Kwara State, brings extensive experience in the oil and gas sector. Before his appointment, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Renaissance Africa Energy Company, where he played a pivotal role in the firm’s recent $2.4 billion acquisition of Shell’s Nigerian assets.
An alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Ojulari has held leadership positions at major oil firms, including Elf Aquitaine and Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd. His international experience spans Nigeria, Europe, and the Middle East. Notably, he has served as Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO) and has been actively involved in the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the Nigerian Society of Engineers.