NaijNaira
On April 2, 2025, President Bola Tinubu appointed Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the new Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited. Ojulari replaces Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari, who had held the position prior to the appointment. In addition to this change, President Tinubu announced a significant restructuring of the NNPC board, resulting in the removal of both the chairman, Chief Pius Akinyelure, and the CEO, Kyari.
The newly reconstituted NNPC board will now consist of 11 members, with Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari serving as Group CEO and Ahmadu Musa Kida taking the role of non-executive chairman. The other members of the board represent various geopolitical zones across the country, ensuring a broad national representation. These appointments are effective from today, April 2, 2025.
About Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari – NNPCL Group CEO
Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari, a native of Kwara State, is a seasoned Nigerian engineer with deep expertise in petroleum, process, and production engineering. He is an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he earned his degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Prior to his new appointment, Ojulari served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy Company. During his time there, he played a pivotal role in a landmark acquisition worth $2.4 billion, which saw a consortium of indigenous energy firms, led by Renaissance, acquire the entire equity stake in Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC).
Ojulari’s career in the oil and gas sector spans over three decades. He started as the first Nigerian process engineer at Elf Aquitaine and later joined Shell Petroleum Development Company in 1991 as an associate production technologist. He rose through the ranks and held several managerial roles across Europe, the Middle East, and Nigeria, specializing in petroleum engineering, process engineering, production engineering, and strategic planning.
In 2015, he became the Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO), overseeing the company’s deepwater operations. He remained in this position until his retirement in 2021. Ojulari has also served as the chairman and a 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.
Apart from his role at Renaissance Africa Energy, Ojulari has also contributed to the energy sector in various leadership capacities and has been instrumental in shaping policies within the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
Board Restructuring and New Appointments
Alongside the appointment of Ojulari, President Tinubu approved a comprehensive reshuffling of NNPC’s leadership, emphasizing the importance of aligning the company with national value maximization goals. The restructured 11-member NNPC board will now feature key individuals representing Nigeria’s diverse regions. Among the new members are:
- Ahmadu Musa Kida (Non-executive chairman)
- Adedapo Segun, who replaced Umaru Isa Ajiya as Chief Financial Officer in November 2023, will remain a part of the board.
- Bello Rabiu (North West)
- Yusuf Usman (North East)
- Babs Omotowa (North Central), a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG)
- Austin Avuru (South-South)
- David Ige (South West)
- Henry Obih (South East)
- Mrs Lydia Shehu Jafiya, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance
- Aminu Said Ahmed, representing the Ministry of Petroleum Resources
These new appointments are part of an ongoing effort by the president to ensure that NNPC is restructured in a way that supports efficiency, transparency, and alignment with Nigeria’s long-term energy goals.
Ojulari’s Vision for NNPC
As the new CEO, Ojulari inherits a company that has faced ongoing challenges, including issues related to corruption and inefficiency. His appointment comes at a critical time for NNPC, especially considering the changing dynamics of the Nigerian oil sector, including Shell’s partial divestment from the country’s onshore oil operations.
In his new role, Ojulari is expected to spearhead a comprehensive strategic review of NNPC’s operations. One of his immediate tasks will be to conduct a portfolio review of the company’s joint venture and operational assets, aiming to ensure these align with the overarching goal of value maximization for the Nigerian people.
Ojulari’s extensive background in both the technical and strategic facets of the energy industry positions him well to lead NNPC into a new era, focusing on efficiency, transparency, and a commitment to Nigeria’s energy future.
