Tinubu Shakes Up NNPC Board, Appoints New CEO and Chairman

By AbdulHakeem Mutiu Adejumo-Ajeseku Abuja-Nigeria

BTvNEWS: In a significant overhaul, President Bola Tinubu has reconstituted the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) board, removing Chairman Pius Akinyelure and Group Chief Executive Officer Mele Kyari.

Bashir Ojulari takes the reins as the new CEO, effective April 2, 2025, BTV News reports.

The new 11-man board features Ahmadu Musa Kida as non-executive chairman, alongside Adedapo Segun and six non-executive directors representing Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.

These directors include:

• North West: Bello Rabiu
• North East: Yusuf Usman
• North Central: Babs Omotowa
• South-South: Austin Avuru
• South West: David Ige
• South East: Henry Obih

Mrs. Lydia Shehu Jafiya and Aminu Ahmed will represent the Federal Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Petroleum Resources, respectively.

Ahmadu Kida, the new Chairman of NNPC, from Borno State, boasts an impressive academic background, holding a degree in civil engineering from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1984), and a postgraduate diploma in petroleum engineering from the Institut Francaise du Petrol in Paris.

His illustrious career spans over three decades, with stints at Elf Petroleum Nigeria, Total Exploration and Production, and Pan Ocean-Newcross Group.

Kida is also a former basketballer and President of the Nigerian Basketball Federation board.

Bashir Ojulari, the new CEO of NNPC, from Kwara State, brings a wealth of experience to the table. Until his new appointment, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy Company.

Ojulari played a key role in the landmark acquisition of the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, worth $2.4 billion.

He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and has worked with Elf Aquitaine, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd, and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, among others.

President Tinubu emphasized the importance of the board’s restructuring, citing the need to enhance operational efficiency, restore investor confidence, and drive economic growth.

The new board has been tasked with conducting a strategic portfolio review to ensure alignment with value maximization objectives.