By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
AT LEAST 200 employees have been sacked by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited in a sweeping internal shake-up that has upended its executive structure, with several top officials ousted and new female leaders taking key roles.
The wave of terminations—quietly executed but deeply felt across the company’s hierarchy—saw the removal of prominent figures closely tied to the company’s former leadership.
Among the departed are Bala Wunti, the former head of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS); Lawal Sade, Chief Compliance Officer and former managing director of NNPC Trading; and Ibrahim Onoja, who led the Port Harcourt Refinery.
Their exits were not announced publicly but confirmed by internal sources.
“These officials were either forced to retire or had their appointments terminated with immediate effect,” a senior official disclosed, requesting anonymity to speak freely. “Over 200 employees have just been asked to go.”
The dismissals follow the recent arrival of Bayo Ojulari, a former Shell executive, who took office on April 4 after being appointed by President Bola Tinubu.
Ojulari replaced Mele Kyari, who led the national oil company for five years and was removed on April 2.
His removal was followed swiftly by the appointment of an eight-member management team.
Sources within the company said the restructuring was part of Ojulari’s broader vision to reform NNPC’s culture and leadership.
While official comments remain scarce, some insiders believe the overhaul was designed to dismantle entrenched loyalties to Kyari and introduce a more inclusive leadership structure.
As part of that transition, Maryamu Idris has been elevated to managing director of NNPC Trading, taking charge of crude oil transactions, while Obioma Abangwu has been appointed chief liaison officer to the company’s management board.
Both appointments signal a deliberate move to boost female representation at the top echelons of the energy giant.
NNPC staff appeared largely receptive to the changes, with some expressing optimism that Ojulari’s actions could open long-denied leadership pathways for women and minority groups.
However, the company’s spokesperson for corporate communications did not return a request for comment regarding the terminations or strategic objectives behind the shake-up.
