In a major shake-up of the Nigerian oil and gas sector, President Bola Tinubu has approved the reconstitution of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) board. This decision led to the removal of the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mallam Mele Kyari, and the board Chairman, Chief Pius Akinyelure, along with other board members appointed in November 2023.
The announcement, made through a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed that Engr. Bashir Ojulari has been appointed as the new NNPCL Group CEO, while Ahmadu Kida assumes the role of Non-Executive Chairman.
New NNPCL Board Members
The newly reconstituted 11-man board includes:
- Adedapo Segun – Chief Financial Officer
- Bello Rabiu (North West) – Non-Executive Director
- Yusuf Usman (North East) – Non-Executive Director
- Babs Omotowa (North Central) – Non-Executive Director
- Austin Avuru (South-South) – Non-Executive Director
- David Ige (South-West) – Non-Executive Director
- Henry Obih (South East) – Non-Executive Director
- Mrs. Lydia Shehu Jafiya – Representative, Federal Ministry of Finance
- Aminu Ahmed – Representative, Ministry of Petroleum Resources
The new appointments take effect from April 2, 2025, in line with President Tinubu’s oil sector reform agenda aimed at boosting operational efficiency, attracting foreign investment, and driving Nigeria’s energy sector growth.
Tinubu’s Oil & Gas Reforms: Investment & Production Targets
Under the Tinubu administration, Nigeria has witnessed significant oil and gas investments, including $17 billion in 2023. The government’s new target aims to:
Increase investment in the oil sector to $30 billion by 2027 and $60 billion by 2030.
Boost crude oil production to 2 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2027 and 3 million bpd by 2030.
Scale up natural gas production to 8 billion cubic feet daily by 2027 and 10 billion cubic feet by 2030.
Expand NNPC’s refining capacity to 200,000 barrels daily by 2027 and 500,000 barrels daily by 2030.
Who is Bashir Ojulari, the New NNPCL CEO?
Engr. Bashir Ojulari, a seasoned oil and gas executive, hails from Kwara State and has a wealth of experience spanning three decades. Before his appointment, he was the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Renaissance Africa Energy Company. His firm played a key role in the $2.4 billion acquisition of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC).
Ojulari, an Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria graduate in Mechanical Engineering, began his career at Elf Aquitaine, later moving to Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in 1991. He has worked across Nigeria, Europe, and the Middle East in various leadership roles, including Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO) in 2015.
Who is Ahmadu Kida, the New NNPCL Board Chairman?
Ahmadu Kida, from Borno State, is an oil industry veteran with an extensive petroleum engineering and project management background. A graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, he furthered his expertise with a postgraduate diploma from the Institut Francaise du Petrol (IFP) in Paris.
Kida started his career at Elf Petroleum Nigeria before moving to Total Exploration and Production, where he became Deputy Managing Director of Deep Water Services in 2015. Apart from his oil sector achievements, Kida is known for his role in Nigerian sports administration, having served as President of the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF).
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Tinubu Commends Outgoing NNPCL Board
President Tinubu thanked the outgoing NNPCL board members for their contributions, particularly in rehabilitating the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, which enabled the resumption of local petroleum production.
With this new leadership, Nigeria’s oil and gas sector is expected to undergo a major transformation, reinforcing the country’s position as a key player in the global energy market.
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