In a sweeping change within the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially removed Mele Kyari from his role as Group Managing Director (GMD).
The President has appointed Olamilekan Ojulari, a seasoned executive in the oil and gas sector, as the new head of the corporation. This move, announced on April 2, 2025, comes amidst rising concerns over inefficiency within the national oil company and its handling of the country’s increasingly complex energy policies.
Kyari, who served as GMD since 2019, was widely credited with leading NNPCL during the turbulent periods of fluctuating global oil prices and a major transition in the oil industry’s regulatory framework. However, his tenure was not without controversy, with critics pointing to the corporation's struggles with oil theft, corruption scandals, and the management of Nigeria’s massive fuel subsidy scheme.
Olamilekan Ojulari, a former senior official at several multinational energy firms, is expected to bring fresh leadership to the corporation. He has a reputation for advocating modernization and efficiency within Nigeria's energy sector. One of the key challenges facing Ojulari will be implementing President Tinubu’s energy transition goals while ensuring that the NNPCL is able to increase domestic production and effectively manage the country’s oil reserves amidst global sustainability pressures. Many observers believe his appointment signals the President’s intention to address the inefficiencies and corruption that have plagued the country’s oil sector for decades.
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| New NNPCL Boss, Olamilekan Ojulari |
The Nigerian government is also under increasing pressure to deliver more substantial reforms in the energy sector, particularly regarding the management of fuel subsidies and improving domestic refinery capacity. Ojulari’s performance will be closely watched, especially given the sector's critical role in Nigeria's economy, contributing a significant portion of government revenue.