THE NIGERIAN National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd has reportedly sacked over 200 senior staff members as part of a significant restructuring of its management.
Multiple sources listed the sacked officials, believed to be associates of Mele Kyari, who was removed as Group CEO by President Bola Tinubu on April 2, 2025, to include the former Chief of National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), Bala Wunti, the Managing Director of the Kaduna Refinery, Ibrahim Onoja, and the Chief Compliance Officer and former Managing Director of NNPC Trading, Lawal Sade.
The shakeup, sources say, has resulted in an increased representation of women in senior leadership roles, including the appointment of Maryam Idrisu as Managing Director of NNPC Trading, responsible for all crude oil transactions, and Obioma Abangwu as Chief Liaison Officer for Board Matters.
NNPC’s rank-and-file reportedly appeared excited about the exercise, the sources also said, with some suggesting that Mr Ojulari took the action to create broader opportunities for women and other minority groups to advance in the organisation.
Mr Ojulari, a former Shell executive, assumed office on April 4, following his appointment by President Bola Tinubu a few days earlier. He replaced Mele Kyari, a career official who ran the oil giant for five years before his removal.
