President Tinubu Shakes Up NNPCL Leadership Amid Operational Concerns

President Tinubu Orders Overhaul of NNPCL Leadership

Listen, folks. Let me break this down for you. On Wednesday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made a bold move by approving the dismissal of Mele Kolo Kyari as the Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). This decision wasn’t made lightly. It comes after mounting concerns over various operational issues within the company.

Naija News had earlier reported that this decision didn’t stop at Kyari. The entire NNPCL board was dissolved, signaling a complete overhaul of leadership.

In an official statement from the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, it was confirmed that President Tinubu authorized a comprehensive reconstitution of the NNPCL board. This restructuring was aimed at addressing inefficiencies and ensuring the company operates at its full potential.

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So, what exactly happened? Chairman Pius Akinyelure and Group CEO Mele Kolo Kyari were removed from their positions, alongside other board members who were appointed back in November 2023. This wasn’t just a shuffle—it was a complete reset.

New Leadership Takes the Helm

With the old guard out, President Tinubu wasted no time in appointing a fresh set of leaders to guide the NNPCL into a brighter future. Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari was appointed as the new Group CEO, while Ahmadu Musa Kida was brought in as the non-executive Chairman of the board.

But the changes didn’t stop there. President Tinubu also retained Adedapo Segun, who had previously replaced Umaru Isa Ajiya as the Chief Financial Officer in November 2023. Segun continues to play a key role on the newly formed board.

To ensure representation from all regions, six non-executive directors were appointed to reflect Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. These include Bello Rabiu from the North West, Yusuf Usman from the North East, and Babs Omotowa, a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), representing North Central. Rounding out the board are Austin Avuru from the South South, David Ige from the South West, and Henry Obih from the South East.

Additionally, Lydia Shehu Jafiya, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, and Aminu Said Ahmed, representing the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, were named as members of the new board. This diverse group brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the table.

Meet the New Appointees

Let’s take a closer look at the profiles of the individuals who will now steer the NNPCL:

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Bashir Bayo Ojulari: The New CEO

Bashir Bayo Ojulari, the new Group CEO of NNPCL, is a seasoned professional hailing from Kwara State. Before his appointment, he served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy Company. Under his leadership, the company successfully led a consortium of indigenous energy firms in acquiring the entire equity holding in the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) for a whopping $2.4 billion.

Ojulari’s impressive career began at Elf Aquitaine, where he worked as the first Nigerian process engineer. From there, he joined Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd in 1991, where he held various roles, including associate production technologist. His career took him across the globe, with stints in Europe and the Middle East, where he worked in different capacities as a petroleum process and production engineer, strategic planner, field developer, and asset manager.

By 2015, Ojulari had risen to the position of Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO). Throughout his career, he has served as chairman and member of the board of trustees of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE Nigerian Council) and is a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.

Ahmad Musa Kida: The Chairman

Ahmadu Musa Kida, the new Chairman of the NNPCL board, is a distinguished figure hailing from Borno State. He graduated with a degree in civil engineering from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1984 and later obtained a postgraduate diploma in petroleum engineering from the Institut Francaise du Petrol (IFP) in Paris.

Kida’s career began at Elf Petroleum Nigeria, where he worked as a trainee engineer before moving to Total Exploration and Production. By 2015, he had climbed the ranks to become Total Nigeria’s Deputy Managing Director of Deep Water Services. Beyond his oil industry achievements, Kida is also a former basketball player and currently serves as the president of the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) board.

Adedapo Segun: The CFO

Adedapo Segun, the new Chief Financial Officer, brings a wealth of financial expertise to the table. He worked with Chevron as a Financial Services Manager for nearly six years before joining NNPC as a Group General Manager of Treasury. His roles have included Chief Finance and Investor Relations Officer and Executive Vice-President of Downstream. Segun’s experience makes him a crucial asset to the NNPCL’s financial management.

Meet the Board Members

Bello Rabiu: North West

Bello Rabiu, a seasoned veteran in the oil and gas industry, was the Chief Operating Officer/Group Executive Director, Upstream of NNPC. In this role, he oversaw the Corporation’s upstream businesses, including entities like National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), National Engineering and Technical Company (NETCO), Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Integrated Data Services Limited (IDSL), and NNPC Oil Field Services (NOFS).

Rabiu’s career spanned 28 years with NNPC, during which he developed a deep understanding of the Exploration & Production industry in Nigeria. His expertise combines commercial and fiscal knowledge with operational experience. He retired from NNPC in July 2019 after a distinguished career.

Yusuf Usman: North East

Yusuf Usman boasts over 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. He started his career as a Facilities/Project Engineer with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in Warri from 1987 to 1993. In 1993, he joined NNPC as a Facilities Engineer and quickly rose through the ranks, eventually becoming the Technical Assistant to the Group General Manager of NAPIMS by October 2007.

During his tenure, Usman oversaw numerous high-profile projects, including the EKPE Gas Compression Station for EXXON Mobil JV, the AMENAM/KPONO Oil and Gas Development for Total JV, and the FEED of Brass and Olokola LNG Gas Supply Projects for CNL JV. His contributions have been instrumental in advancing Nigeria’s energy infrastructure.

Babs Omotowa: North Central

Babs Omotowa is a globally recognized leader in the energy industry, with over 26 years of experience spanning Europe, Africa, the United States, Asia, and the Middle East. He served as the Managing Director/CEO of Nigeria LNG Limited for nearly five years, from December 2011 to September 2016.

Before joining NLNG, Omotowa held various roles, including Vice-President of Shell Sub-Saharan Africa, Director at Shell Petroleum Development Company, and Non-Executive Director of West Africa Gas Pipeline Company. After his tenure at NLNG, he served as Vice President of Shell Global Upstream E&P and later as Special Adviser to the Shell Global Upstream Director.

Austin Avuru: South-South

Austin Avuru is a geologist by training who has spent over 40 years in the Nigerian oil and gas sector. He served as the Managing Director of Platform Petroleum Limited and became the pioneer CEO of Seplat Ltd in 2010, a company he co-founded. Under his leadership, Seplat was listed on both the London Stock Exchange and the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Avuru’s contributions to the industry have earned him numerous accolades. He is a fellow and past president of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), and a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE). He is also the author of “Politics, Economics & the Nigerian Petroleum Industry” and co-author of “Nigerian Petroleum Business, A Handbook.”

David Ige: South West

David Oluseyi Ige, a former Group Executive Director of NNPC, brings over 25 years of experience in oil and gas, management consulting, and academia. His expertise spans Exploration, Development, Production of Oil and Natural Gas, Midstream infrastructure, and Downstream disposal of Hydrocarbons.

Ige is widely recognized for his role in developing the Nigeria Gas Master Plan and policy, which addressed a significant threat to the nation’s energy agenda due to the lack of a viable gas infrastructure. His leadership has been pivotal in shaping the country’s energy landscape.

Henry Obih: South East

Henry Obih, a former Group Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer, Downstream in NNPC, retired in 2019 after a long and illustrious career. Before joining NNPC in 2016, he spent 22 years at Mobil Oil Nigeria (ExxonMobil Nigeria Downstream), where he held various high-profile positions in Operations, Customer Service, and Logistics.

Obih’s recent leadership roles include board positions at Nigeria Gas Marketing Company Limited, Pipelines and Products Marketing Company Limited, NNPC Retail Limited, NIDAS Marine Limited, NIKORMA Limited, and Duke Oil Company Inc. His extensive experience makes him a valuable addition to the new board.