President Bola Tinubu has officially inaugurated the board and management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), seven weeks after their initial appointment, with Ahmadu Kida as non-executive chairman and Bashir Ojulari as Group CEO

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday officially swore in the newly appointed board and management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), a crucial step in cementing the leadership of the nation’s energy sector.

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This inauguration comes seven weeks after the appointments were initially announced on April 2, 2025.

The brief ceremony, held at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja, saw the non-executive chairman of the board, Ahmadu Kida, and NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Bashir Ojulari, formally take their oaths of office.

Following the event, President Tinubu proceeded to the All Progressives Congress’ National Summit at the State House Banquet Hall.

The 11-member board comprises a diverse representation from across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones. Key members include Adedapo Segun and Bello Rabiu, representing the North West; Yusuf Usman for the North East; and Babs Omotowa, a former Managing Director of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), representing the North Central.

The swearing-in took place at a brief ceremony held at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, on Thursday afternoon, solidifying the new leadership for Nigeria’s national oil company.

Further strengthening the board are Austin Avuru, serving as the Non-Executive Director for the South-South; David Ige, representing the South-West; and Henry Obih, representing the South-East. Crucially, the board also includes key government representatives: Mrs. Lydia Shehu Jafiya, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, and Aminu Ahmed, representing the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by several high-ranking government officials, underscoring the significance of the appointments.

Among those present were the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; and the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri.