President Bola Tinubu has appointed Engineer Bashir Ojulari as the new Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, replacing Mele Kyari. The announcement was made on Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy).
The restructuring, executed under Section 59 (2) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, aims to enhance operational efficiency, restore investor confidence, boost local content, drive economic growth, and accelerate gas commercialisation.
Key Changes in NNPC Leadership
- Pius Akinyelure (former Chairman) and Mele Kyari (former GCEO) removed.
- All board members appointed in November 2023 dissolved.
- New 11-member board constituted, with Ahmadu Kida as Non-Executive Chairman and Bashir Ojulari as Group CEO.
Who is Bashir Ojulari?
Ojulari, a Kwara State indigene, brings over three decades of oil and gas expertise:
- Education: Mechanical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1985–1989).
- Career Highlights:
- Elf Petroleum Nigeria (1989–1991) – Fields & Process Engineer.
- Shell Petroleum (SPDC) (1991–2021) – Held key roles in Nigeria, Oman, and Shell Netherlands.
- SNEPCo MD (2015–2021) – Oversaw deepwater operations.
- Founder, BAT Advisory & Energy (2021–2024).
- COO, Renaissance Africa Energy (2024–2025) – Managed Shell asset acquisition.
This strategic reshuffle signals Tinubu’s commitment to reforming Nigeria’s oil sector for transparency, profitability, and global competitiveness.
Why This Matters:
- Investor Confidence: New leadership could attract foreign investments.
- Economic Growth: NNPC reforms may boost Nigeria’s oil-dependent economy.
- Gas Expansion: Focus on commercialisation aligns with global energy transition trends.
Stay updated for more developments on Nigeria’s evolving energy sector.