A combined picture of Bayo Ojulari and NNPCL logo
By Victory Oghene
Four weeks after taking over as the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd, Mr. Bayo Ojulari has sacked some senior staff members of the NNPCL.
NATIONAL WAVES gathered that among those relieved of their jobs are Bala Wunti, former chief of National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), and Ibrahim Onoja, managing director of the Kaduna Refinery.
Also sacked was Lawal Sade, the chief compliance officer and former managing director of NNPC Trading.
These former top senior directors are believed to be very close to the former NNPCL boss, Mele Kyari, who was removed as group chief executive officer (GCEO) on April 2, 2025.
Going by this recent development, over 200 employees have been impacted, marking the beginning of what may be a series of staff changes.
This restructuring has resulted in an increased representation of women in senior leadership roles, including the appointment of Maryam Idrisu as managing director of NNPC Trading — responsible for all crude oil transactions — and Obioma Abangwu as chief liaison officer for board matters.
The directors were sacked four weeks after Bayo Ojulari took over from Kyari.
Three days after Mr. Ojulari assumed office, NNPC appointed an eight-member senior management team.
