In a decisive political move, President Bola Tinubu has overhauled the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), appointing Bayo Ojulari as the new Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), replacing Mele Kyari.
The shake-up, announced on Wednesday, also saw the dismissal of board chairman Pius Akinyelure and the appointment of Ahmadu Kida as the new non-executive chairman. The move signals Tinubu’s intent to consolidate control over Nigeria’s most strategic economic asset.
NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, confirmed Ojulari’s formal assumption of office on Friday after a handover ceremony held at the NNPC Towers in Abuja.
Ojulari, a respected figure in the oil and gas sector, expressed his commitment to building on Kyari’s legacy. “The targets are high, but with the support of the management and staff, and with the guidance of my predecessor, we will move NNPC to the next level,” he said.
Kyari, who had become a central figure in Nigeria’s oil reform and deregulation efforts, congratulated Ojulari and assured him of ongoing support, saying he remained just “a call away.”
Strategic Appointments Signal New Direction
Following the top-level change, NNPC announced a new 8-member senior management team in what observers see as a consolidation of Tinubu’s influence within the company.
The new executive team, now under Ojulari’s command, includes:
Rowland Ewubare – Group Chief Operating Officer
Adedapo Segun – Group Chief Financial Officer
Olalekan Ogunleye – Executive VP, Gas, Power & New Energy
Udy Ntia – Executive VP, Upstream
Mumuni Dangazau – Executive VP, Downstream
Sophia Mbakwe – Executive VP, Business Services
Adesua Dozie – Company Secretary & Chief Legal Officer
Political analysts say the changes are not just administrative but signal a broader shift in how Tinubu plans to steer Nigeria’s oil sector, with trusted technocrats now in key positions.
As the president continues to assert authority across federal institutions, the NNPC overhaul marks a pivotal step in aligning the national oil company with his economic and energy agenda ahead of key reforms.
