On Tuesday, Nigerians woke up to the news of Mele Kyari’s removal as GCEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited after five years.

President Bola Tinubu named Bashir Bayo Ojulari, the vice-president of Renaissance Africa Energy Company, as NNPCL’s new chief.

With his appointment on  April 2, 2025, Mr Ojulari becomes the 20th CEO of the national oil company.

Of the 19 chiefs who headed the national oil company since its establishment in 1977, Mr Kyari, 60, an appointee of former President Muhammadu Buhari, had the longest tenure, serving as GCEO from July 2019 to April 2025. 

During his leadership, the NNPC transitioned into a limited liability company (NNPCL) in 2022, but fuel shortages and operational challenges marked his tenure like many others before him.

Tapped to succeed Maikanti Buru in 2019, Mr Kyari’s tenure witnessed documented instances of acute fuel scarcity and a widely-publicised transition of the oil corporation to a limited liability company to become NNPCL in 2022. 

Mr Ojulari, the new NNPCL GCEO, is well-credentialled. The Kwara-born mechanical engineer spearheaded the acquisition of the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria for  $2.4 billion.

As a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, where he studied mechanical engineering, he joined Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd in 1991 after quitting Elf Aquitaine.

Mr Ojulari, who initially joined Shell as an associate production technologist, rose through the ranks to become the managing director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company in 2015.

Having acquired relevant skills in the oil sector working as a production engineer, field developer, and asset manager in the Middle East and Europe, Mr Ojulari opened his oil consulting company in 2021.

He established the BAT Advisory and Energy Company Nigeria Ltd to cater to companies and firms in the energy sector.

Following the appointment of the new NNPCL chief, Peoples Gazette has compiled a list (see below) of previous CEOs of the oil corporation since its inception.

1. Chief R. A. Marinho July 1977 – April 1980 
2. ⁠Chief Odiligi Lolomari Apr. 1980 – Aug. 1981 
3. Mr. Lawrence Amu Oct 1981 – Nov. 1985 
4. Mr. Aret Adams Nov. 1985 – Apr. 1990
5. Dr. Thomas John Apr. 1990 – Jun 1990 
6. Mr. Edmund Daukoru Jun. 1992 – Oct. 1993 
7. Chief Chamberlain Oyibo Nov. 1993 – Aug 1995 
8. Alh. Dalhatu Bayero Aug. 1995 – May 1999
9. Jackson Gaius Obaseki (May 1999- November 2003)
10. Funsho Kupolokun (November 2003 – December 2007)
11. Abubakar Lawal Yar’Adua (August 2007- January 2009)
12. Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo (January 2009- April 2010)
13. Shehu Ladan (April 2010- May 2010)
14. Austine Oniwon (May 2010- June 2012)
15. Andrew Yakubu (June 2012 – August 2014)
16. Joseph Thlama Dawha (August 2014 – August 2015)
17. Ibe Kachikwu (July 2015 – August 2016)
18. Maikanti Baru (August 2016 – June 2019)
19. Mele Kyari (July 2019 – April 2025)