NNPC: Tinubu Removes Mele Kyari, Replaces him with Ojulari

By Osaro Michael, Benin

President Bola Tinubu has removed Mele Kyari as the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.

Congress gathered that the president had made significant changes to the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, removing Mele Kyari as the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) and dissolving the company’s board.

Following a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the president invoked his powers under Section 59(2) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 to carry out the sweeping reconstitution.

According to the president, the decision, effective from April 2, 2025, aimed to enhance operational efficiency, restore investor confidence, and make NNPC more commercially viable.

As part of the overhaul, Bayo Ojulari takes over from Kyari as the new GCEO, while Ahmadu Musa Kida has been appointed as NNPC’s new non-executive chairman, replacing Pius Akinyelure. Adedapo Segun has been confirmed as the company’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

The president also appointed six non-executive directors from each geopolitical zone, including Bello Rabiu (North-West), Yusuf Usman (North-East), and Babs Omotowa (North-Central). Others are Austin Avuru (South-South), David Ige (South-West), and Henry Obih (South-East). Lydia Shehu Jafiya, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, and Aminu Said Ahmed of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources will represent their respective ministries on the new board.

According to the statement, “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 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 maximization objectives.