President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally inaugurated the newly appointed board and executive management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), seven weeks after their names were first announced. The brief but significant ceremony took place on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, shortly before the President proceeded to the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Summit at the State House Banquet Hall.
The inauguration officially marks the beginning of a new leadership era for NNPCL, following the conclusion of Mele Kyari’s tenure as the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the national oil firm. Bashir Ojulari, a seasoned oil industry executive, takes over as the new GCEO, while Ahmadu Kida, a former top executive at Total, assumes the position of non-executive chairman of the board.
The newly constituted board comprises eleven members drawn from various geopolitical zones and government ministries, underscoring the administration’s commitment to inclusive governance and regional representation.
Representing the North West on the board are Adedapo Segun and Bello Rabiu, while Yusuf Usman will serve on behalf of the North East. Babs Omotowa, the former Managing Director of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), takes the slot for the North Central.
Other members include Austin Avuru, a respected figure in the oil and gas sector, representing the South-South; David Ige, a long-serving energy strategist, for the South-West; and Henry Obih, known for his operational expertise, representing the South-East.
The Federal Government is also represented on the board through two key officials. Mrs. Lydia Shehu Jafiya, Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Finance, is the ministry’s representative, while Aminu Ahmed will serve on behalf of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
The swearing-in ceremony was witnessed by several top government officials, including the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; and the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri.
All appointments, as previously announced, officially took effect from April 2, 2025.
