The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd has appointed Maryam Idrisu as Managing Director of NNPC Trading and Obioma Abangwu as Chief Liaison Officer for Board Matters.
This comes amid the reported dismissal of over 200 staff, including key allies of former GCEO Mele Kyari, such as Bala Wunti of NAPIMS and Ibrahim Onoja of the Kaduna Refinery.The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd has appointed Maryam Idrisu as Managing Director of NNPC Trading and Obioma Abangwu as Chief Liaison Officer for Board Matters, amid the exit of over 200 staff, including top executives like Lawal Sade, Bala Wunti, and Ibrahim Onoja.
The dismissals reportedly target employees with 17 months or less until retirement, as part of a restructuring effort to bring in new talent.Maryam Idrisu previously held key roles in NNPC Trading, including Executive Director of Planning & Commercial and Crude & Condensate. She has a background in Economics from the University of Abuja and a Master’s degree in Energy Economics from the University of Dundee.
Obioma Abangwu, newly appointed Chief Liaison Officer for Board Matters at NNPC, was previously Head of Corporate Law and Board Matters, according to the company’s website. Her full profile remains limited online, though she is noted to be a golf enthusiast.Since becoming Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Bashir Bayo Ojulari has initiated a restructuring of NNPC, beginning with the appointment of an eight-member senior management team.
NNPC Ltd’s new GCEO, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, has formed a senior management team including Rowland Ewubare (Group COO), Adedapo Segun (Group CFO), Olalekan Ogunleye (EVP, Gas, Power & New Energy), Udy Ntia (EVP, Upstream), Mumuni Dangazau (EVP, Downstream), Sophia Mbakwe (EVP, Business Services), and Adesua Dozie (Company Secretary & Chief Legal Officer).
Ojulari pledged to build on Mele Kyari’s legacy and lead the company forward, acknowledging the challenges ahead and expressing his intent to seek support and guidance from staff and his predecessor.During a town hall meeting, NNPC Ltd GCEO Bashir Bayo Ojulari reaffirmed his commitment to building a company that Nigerians can be proud of.
He outlined ambitious goals, including attracting $30 billion in investments by 2027 and $60 billion by 2030, raising crude oil production to 2 million barrels per day by 2027 and 3 million by 2030, expanding refining capacity to 500,000bpd, and increasing gas output to 12bcf/day by 2030.To achieve this, NNPC will restructure for agility, enforce performance management, promote transparent partnerships, and take control of its public image.
Ojulari emphasized that these targets represent hope, jobs, and energy security, and called on staff to support the company’s ongoing transformation into a transparent and profitable entity.GCEO Bashir Bayo Ojulari assured NNPC staff of a supportive environment where both experienced and young employees can thrive to outperform competitors.Last month, President Bola Tinubu dismissed the NNPC Ltd board, including GCEO Mele Kyari and Chairman Pius Akinyelure, who were appointed in November 2023.
Kyari had initially been appointed by former President Buhari.Commenting on the restructuring, petroleum economics expert Prof. Wunmi Iledare emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in the dismissal of staff, as required by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021. He noted that restructuring may involve relieving some staff but must follow due process without profiling or politics. On the Port Harcourt Refinery MD’s exit, he suggested it may reflect concerns over the team’s ability to meet set goals.
Prof. Wunmi Iledare emphasized that NNPC Ltd must maintain transparency and accountability, as mandated by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), to avoid speculation and uphold public trust. He stressed that staff dismissals should be explained—without disclosing private details—to prevent instability and ensure investor confidence. For NNPC to succeed, its management and board must operate within the law, with full alignment to government goals and high public perception.
