By Ayomide Otitoju
President Bola Tinubu has tasked the newly inaugurated Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited with consolidating the achievements of his administration’s economic reforms, which have drawn both local and international praise for enhancing Nigeria’s economic competitiveness.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held on Thursday at the State House in Abuja, President Tinubu emphasized the importance of strong, capable leadership in repositioning the energy sector. He said the selection of board members was a deliberate and rigorous process aimed at assembling the most competent professionals in the industry.
“When I started searching, it took a while to come up with the kind of character that you represent,” Tinubu said. “You have the reputation, resourcefulness, and experience to help the country. It is a call to duty for you. I believe you are among the best the industry can offer.”
The President noted that recent economic reforms have started to yield positive outcomes, making Nigeria more competitive and resilient. He urged the board to explore strategic solutions to economic challenges, especially in the face of global volatility, and to ensure that NNPC Limited plays a pivotal role in national development.
“Nigeria has come of age. It is now more competitive and turning the corner, and with your highly respected team, I can relax and attend to other issues,” he stated. “Explore all options for a win-win situation for Nigeria. I am so proud of you and believe you will succeed.”
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, praised the President for assembling what he described as “the best team in Africa,” adding that the quality of the board had drawn admiration from peers across the continent.
“I got calls from across Africa and OPEC colleagues who said if this team doesn’t deliver, Nigeria may need to import people from another planet to run the oil and gas sector,” Lokpobiri said.
Board Chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and assured that the board would uphold the highest standards of leadership, integrity, and accountability.
Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, disclosed that the new leadership had already begun stakeholder engagements to align strategies and operations. He noted that production levels had increased from 1.5 million barrels per day to 1.7 million in two months, with a target of 1.9 million by year-end.
Ojulari said the board had initiated key reforms, including the turnaround maintenance of refineries, and stressed the administration’s reforms were helping to attract foreign direct investment.
