Power play signals change in Nigeria
With a new board appointed to lead NNPC and moves by President Tinubu to exert control in the Delta region, there is renewed hope the country will be able to turn the corner and rebuild production to former peaks
Newly installed CEO of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Bashir Bayo Ojulari, has pledged to attract $60b and hike crude output to 3m b/d by 2030 as part of a firm commitment by the country’s leadership to reassert control over its oil and gas sector and double down on reform. Early April saw the replacement of the state energy company’s management with a new, experienced team that includes former Shell executive Ojulari, replacing sitting CEO Mele Kyari and ten other members of the board. With the new NNPC leadership confronted by multiple challenges, this is a critical period for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. President Bola Tinubu said the overhaul of the board was necessary
Also in this section
20 January 2026
As the global energy system undergoes its most profound transformation in a century, the need for credible leadership, practical solutions and inclusive dialogue has never been greater. In 2026, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will stand at the centre of this conversation as host of the 25th WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh.
20 January 2026
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the host of the 25th WPC Energy Congress on 26-30 April 2026. The Ministry of Energy spoke with Petroleum Economist about the key messages and opportunities for the global energy community.
19 January 2026
Newfound optimism is emerging that a dormant exploration frontier could become a strategic energy play and—whisper it quietly—Europe’s next offshore opportunity
16 January 2026
The country’s global energy importance and domestic political fate are interlocked, highlighting its outsized oil and gas powers, and the heightened fallout risk






