In a major leadership restructuring, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has dismissed the managing directors of its three key refineries—Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna. The move, led by the new management team appointed earlier this month, is part of a broader reform effort to revive Nigeria’s struggling oil and gas output.
Alongside the refinery heads, several high-ranking executives within the NNPCL were also relieved of their duties. Among them is Bala Wunti, formerly of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), a subsidiary responsible for managing Nigeria’s petroleum investments.
The managing directors of the Port Harcourt Refining Company, Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, and Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company were all removed as part of the latest leadership changes.
“The decision wasn’t arbitrary,” said a company insider. “The ongoing underperformance of these refineries has been a sore point. With very little improvement seen despite years of funding and promises of turnaround, something had to give.”
Also affected by the shake-up were some senior managers, many of whom were close to retirement. The new leadership reportedly wants a clean slate and fresh thinking to tackle persistent bottlenecks.
In a related development, Maryam Idrisu has been appointed as the new Managing Director of NNPC Trading, the subsidiary in charge of all crude oil sales and trading activities. Her elevation is seen as part of the effort to bring in competent hands to oversee key commercial operations within the company.
It was reported that the company confirmed that the changes extended to officials approaching retirement. Employees with only a year left in service have reportedly been asked to step down as part of the reset.
The shake-up follows the removal of Mele Kyari as Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL by President Bola Tinubu on April 2, 2025. Kyari’s ouster, along with the dismissal of other board members, signalled the administration’s commitment to restructuring the national oil company and boosting production.
Although the company’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, has yet to comment publicly, multiple sources within the organisation confirmed the leadership purge and its link to performance concerns.
Poor Performance Prompted Dismissals
Officials close to the presidency say the decision to part ways with Kyari and other former executives stemmed from their inability to meet key operational targets. One source described the previous leadership as “recycling old ideas” and becoming entrenched in inefficiency.
“This isn’t just a routine reshuffle,” the official said. “It’s a bold move to break out of stagnation. We need dynamic, capable professionals who understand the energy landscape and can move the needle.”
The president has set clear performance benchmarks for the new team, including ambitious targets for crude oil and gas output. By 2030, Nigeria is expected to ramp up oil production to 3 million barrels per day, with an interim goal of hitting 2 million by 2027. In terms of gas, the mandate is to deliver 10 billion cubic meters by the end of the decade.
“The idea is to evaluate all upstream assets, identify underperforming fields, and bring them back online. The goal is optimisation and delivery—no excuses.”
New Leadership at the Helm of NNPCL
In the wake of Kyari’s dismissal, the Presidency announced a new 11-member board for NNPCL. Bayo Ojulari was appointed as the new Group CEO, with Musa Ahmadu-Kida named as non-executive chairman.
Ojulari, a seasoned industry veteran from Kwara State, brings decades of experience to the role. He was previously Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Renaissance Africa Energy. Under his leadership, Renaissance spearheaded a $2.4 billion acquisition of Shell Petroleum Development Company’s Nigerian operations—a landmark deal led by local investors.
His appointment is being seen as a signal of the government’s shift toward technocratic leadership and results-driven governance within the oil sector.
