The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has carried out a significant leadership shake-up, dismissing several senior officials, including Bala Wunti, the Chief Upstream Investment Officer at NNPC Upstream Investment Services (NUIMS). This restructuring comes just weeks after the removal of Mele Kyari as the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) by President Bola Tinubu.

In addition to Wunti, other prominent figures who have left the company include Ibrahim Onoja, Managing Director of the Kaduna Refinery, and Lawal Sade, Chief Compliance Officer and former Managing Director of NNPC Trading. Over 200 employees across various levels were also impacted by the restructuring, with many offered early retirement or severance packages. While NNPC has referred to the shake-up as part of a routine process, some insiders suggest the terminations may be politically motivated, especially given the strong connections these officials had with Kyari.

Following the restructuring, NNPC has announced new appointments, including Maryam Idrisu as the Managing Director of NNPC Trading, the unit responsible for crude oil transactions, and Obioma Abangwu as Chief Liaison Officer for board matters. These changes suggest a potential shift towards a more inclusive leadership and a focus on reform within the company.

This overhaul comes on the heels of broader changes under President Tinubu’s administration. Earlier in April 2025, President Tinubu removed Kyari as GCEO, replaced him with Bayo Ojulari, and dissolved the NNPC board, appointing a new 11-member board led by Ahmadu Kida. These moves are seen as part of a wider effort to reorganize the leadership of the oil sector in line with the current administration’s objectives.

Industry analysts believe that the changes signal a strategic move to realign NNPC’s leadership and operations, with a focus on improving transparency and efficiency. The restructuring could be a step toward addressing challenges within the oil sector, such as declining production, subsidy management, and the global energy shift.

This is not the first time NNPC has undergone a major shake-up; a similar restructuring occurred in September 2023, when a large number of staff nearing retirement were either reassigned or offered early retirement packages.