The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has initiated a significant restructuring under its new leadership, with the reported dismissal of the managing directors of the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries, alongside several senior officials.
Sources within NNPCL, speaking anonymously, confirmed the managerial overhaul on Tuesday night. The affected managing directors oversee the Port Harcourt Refining Company, Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, and Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company. Additionally, Bala Wunti, former chief of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), a subsidiary of NNPCL, was among those sacked. Several senior managers nearing retirement within a year were also asked to exit.
The shake-up, led by Group Chief Executive Officer Bayo Ojulari and Executive Non-Chairman Musa Ahmadu-Kida, follows President Bola Tinubu’s April 2025 decision to replace former GCEO Mele Kyari and Board Chairman Chief Pius Akinyelure. The restructuring comes amid criticism of the poor performance of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, despite significant rehabilitation efforts.
According to a source, “The Port Harcourt refinery has been operating below 50 percent capacity, while Warri has been shut since January 25, 2025, due to safety concerns with its Crude Distillation Unit Main Heater.” A Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority document revealed that Warri, which cost $897.6 million in maintenance, failed to produce Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) and was shut down shortly after being declared operational by Kyari.
In a related development, Maryam Idrisu has been appointed Managing Director of NNPC Trading, signaling further changes within the organization.
NNPCL Spokesperson Olufemi Soneye has yet to comment on the shake-up as of the time of this report.
The sweeping changes reflect the new management’s push to address operational inefficiencies and reposition the state-owned oil company for improved performance.
