Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd has announced the appointment of Maryam Idrisu as the new Managing Director of NNPC Trading and Obioma Abangwu as the Chief Liaison Officer for Board Matters. This development comes amidst reports of a significant staff reshuffle within the company, with sources indicating that over 200 employees have been affected.
Among those reportedly departing are key figures such as Bala Wunti, the former Chief of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), Ibrahim Onoja, the Managing Director of the Kaduna Refinery, and Lawal Sade, the Chief Compliance Officer and former Managing Director of NNPC Trading. Sources suggest that these departures are part of a broader restructuring that could involve further staff changes.
However, a source within NNPC clarified that the recent staff movement was conditional and primarily concerned employees nearing retirement. “Many of those affected had about 17 months or below to retire, so they were given incentives to retire early to allow fresh people into the system. It is a practice that has been going on for years in the NNPC. Some of those who were promoted also worked with Kyari,” the source explained, seemingly downplaying any direct targeting of loyalists of the former Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Mele Kyari.
Profiles of the New Appointees:
Maryam Idrisu: According to her LinkedIn profile, the newly appointed Managing Director of NNPC Trading brings a wealth of experience to the role. Prior to this appointment, she served as the Executive Director of Planning and Commercial at NNPC Trading and also held the position of Executive Director of Crude and Condensate at NNPC Trading Limited. Her career within NNPC includes roles as Manager of Pricing and Valuation and Deputy Manager of Pricing and Performance within the Crude Oil Marketing Division. Maryam holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Abuja (1996-1999) and a Master’s degree in Energy Economics from the University of Dundee (2004-2005).
Obioma Abangwu: While a comprehensive online profile for the new Chief Liaison Officer for Board Matters is limited, information available on the NNPC website indicates her previous role as Head of Corporate Law and Board Matters within the company. She is also noted as an enthusiast of golf.
The appointment of Idrisu and Abangwu signals a potential shift in leadership within key divisions of the NNPC as the company navigates ongoing developments and strategic objectives in the Nigerian oil and gas sector.
