Former-Shell boss tasked with cleaning up Nigeria’s oil sector

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has appointed former Shell executive Bayo Ojulari as the head of the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).

This move is part of broader reforms aimed at addressing corruption, inefficiency, and pollution in the oil sector.

The presidency announced the decision on Wednesday, describing it as "crucial" for economic growth. Alongside Ojulari’s appointment, the entire NNPC board has been replaced.

With Nigeria’s oil production falling below one million barrels per day in 2023, Tinubu's administration is targeting two million barrels daily by 2027 and three million by 2030. Ojulari, who replaces Mele Kyari, brings decades of experience from Shell and other energy firms to lead this transformation.