By Lere Olayinka.
Lere Olayinka has commented on the appointment of Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.).
In a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Olayinka noted that Ojulari hails from Kwara State in North Central Nigeria, while the newly appointed NNPC Ltd. Board Chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida, is from Borno State in the North East. His statement appears to address concerns about regional balance in federal appointments.
Ojulari, a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, has a wealth of industry experience. He previously served as Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) and was most recently the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy Company. Under his leadership, Renaissance played a key role in acquiring Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria for $2.4 billion.
President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of Ojulari and Kida aligns with efforts to reform Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. Their mandate includes improving operational efficiency, boosting investor confidence, and driving economic growth.
Olayinka’s comments add to the broader national discourse on equitable regional representation in strategic government positions, particularly within the vital oil and gas industry.
! Lere Olayinka is the Senior Special Assistant on New Media and Public Communications to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike
