Tinubu Sacks Mele Kyari As NNPC Group CEO, Appoints Bayo Ojulari

President Bola Tinubu has dismissed the board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), including the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, and the board chairman, Pius Akinyelure. The decision, which took effect on April 2, 2025, was communicated through a statement issued by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga.

According to the statement, President Tinubu’s decision was driven by the need to enhance operational efficiency, restore investor confidence, and ensure that NNPC becomes more commercially viable. The President used his powers under Section 59(2) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 to reconstitute the board, with new leadership aimed at repositioning NNPC Limited for greater productivity and alignment with global best practices.

Mele Kyari, who was initially appointed as the NNPC chief by former President Muhammadu Buhari, was reappointed by President Tinubu in 2023 before being removed from his position.

As part of the overhaul, Bayo Ojulari has been appointed as the new Group CEO, taking over from Mele Kyari. Ahmadu Musa Kida replaces Pius Akinyelure as NNPC’s new non-executive chairman, and Adedapo Segun has been confirmed as the company’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

In accordance with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), the President also appointed six non-executive directors, one from each geopolitical zone. These appointees include Bello Rabiu from the north-west, Yusuf Usman from the north-east, and Babs Omotowa, a former managing director of Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), representing the north-central.

The remaining non-executive directors include Austin Avuru for the south-south, David Ige for the south-west, and Henry Obih for the south-east.

Additionally, Lydia Shehu Jafiya, the permanent secretary of the federal ministry of finance, and Aminu Said Ahmed from the ministry of petroleum resources will serve as representatives of their respective ministries on the newly reconstituted board.