The list of NNPC managing directors covers the leaders of Nigeria’s national oil company from its establishment in 1977 to the current NNPC Limited structure. Festus Remilekun Marinho became the first NNPC Group Managing Director, while Mele Kyari became the last person to hold the GMD title before Bashir Bayo Ojulari became Group Chief Executive Officer in April 2025.
NNPC has had 19 individual Group Managing Directors since 1977, with Marinho serving two separate terms. The NNPC managing directors list includes Odoliyi Lolomari, Lawrence Amu, Aret Adams, Edmund Daukoru, Jackson Gaius-Obaseki, Funsho Kupolokun, Maikanti Baru and other former NNPC chiefs.
In July 2022, NNPC became NNPC Limited after the Petroleum Industry Act changed its corporate structure. In April 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Bashir Bayo Ojulari as Group Chief Executive Officer after removing Mele Kyari.
Below is the complete list of NNPC managing directors from 1977 to 2025, followed by the first NNPC GMD, the last NNPC managing director and the current NNPC CEO.
NNPC GMDs and Current GCEO
| No. | NNPC Leadership | Tenure |
| 1 | Festus Remilekun Marinho | July 1977 – April 1980 |
| 2 | Odoliyi Lolomari | April 1980 – August 1981 |
| 3 | Lawrence A. Amu | October 1981 – January 1984 |
| 4 | Festus Remilekun Marinho | January 1984 – October 1985 |
| 5 | Aret Adams | November 1985 – April 1990 |
| 6 | Thomas M. John | April 1990 – June 1992 |
| 7 | Edmund Daukoru | June 1992 – October 1993 |
| 8 | Chamberlain O. Oyibo | November 1993 – August 1995 |
| 9 | Dalhatu Bayero | August 1995 – May 1999 |
| 10 | Jackson Gaius-Obaseki | May 1999 – November 2003 |
| 11 | Funsho Kupolokun | November 2003 – August 2007 |
| 12 | Abubakar Lawal Yar’Adua | August 2007 – January 2009 |
| 13 | Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo | January 2009 – April 2010 |
| 14 | Shehu Ladan | April 2010 – May 2010 |
| 15 | Augustine Olusegun Oniwon | May 2010 – June 2012 |
| 16 | Andrew Yakubu | June 2012 – August 2014 |
| 17 | Joseph Thlama Dawha | August 2014 – August 2015 |
| 18 | Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu | August 2015 – July 2016 |
| 19 | Maikanti Baru | July 2016 – July 2019 |
| 20 | Mele Kolo Kyari | July 2019 – April 2025 |
| 21 | Bashir Bayo Ojulari | April 2025 – Present |
The table counts Marinho twice because he held the position during two separate periods. The number of individual former GMDs is therefore 19.
Who Is the Current NNPC CEO?
Bashir Bayo Ojulari is the current Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed him on 2 April 2025 after removing Mele Kyari and dissolving the previous NNPC Limited board. Tinubu appointed Ahmadu Musa Kida as Non-Executive Chairman.
Ojulari took over from Kyari at NNPC Towers in Abuja in April 2025. Before joining NNPC Limited, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy Company and previously worked with Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria and Elf Aquitaine.
Ojulari studied Mechanical Engineering at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and later obtained an MBA from the Institute of Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The GCEO title replaced the former GMD title after NNPC became NNPC Limited under the Petroleum Industry Act. Mele Kyari served as the first GCEO of NNPC Limited after previously becoming GMD in 2019. Ojulari succeeded him as GCEO in April 2025.
Who Was the First NNPC Managing Director?
Festus Remilekun Ayodele Marinho was the first NNPC Group Managing Director. He took office in July 1977 when NNPC began operations and served until April 1980. He returned as GMD in January 1984 and remained in the position until October 1985.
Marinho was also the first and only Managing Director of the Nigerian National Oil Corporation, which preceded NNPC. He studied Physics at the University of London and completed postgraduate studies in petroleum reservoir engineering at Imperial College London.
His two periods as NNPC GMD make him the only person to appear twice in the historical list. At Maikanti Baru’s valedictory ceremony in Abuja in July 2019, Marinho said, “I’m the only one in Nigeria who was retired twice.”
Marinho later held senior positions in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, including roles with Nigeria LNG Limited and Bonny Gas Transport Company. He also chaired Lekoil Limited.
Who Was the Last NNPC Managing Director?
Mele Kolo Kyari was the last NNPC Group Managing Director. President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him in July 2019 to succeed Maikanti Baru.
Before becoming GMD, Kyari headed NNPC’s Crude Oil Marketing Division and represented Nigeria at OPEC. He remained as the head of NNPC when the corporation became NNPC Limited in July 2022.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu removed Kyari from office on 2 April 2025 and appointed Bashir Bayo Ojulari as Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited.
Kyari therefore became the last person to hold the NNPC Group Managing Director title, while Ojulari became the company’s GCEO under the NNPC Limited structure.
List of NNPC Managing Directors From 1977
1. Festus Remilekun Marinho
Festus Remilekun Marinho was the first NNPC Group Managing Director. He took office in July 1977 when the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation began operations. He left the position in April 1980 and returned as GMD in January 1984. His second term ended in October 1985.
Marinho studied Physics at the University of London and completed postgraduate studies in petroleum reservoir engineering at Imperial College London. Before NNPC began operations, he worked with the Nigerian National Oil Corporation, where he became its first and only Managing Director.
His career included work on Nigeria’s petroleum infrastructure, including refineries, depots and pipelines. He later served as alternate chairman of Nigeria LNG Limited and Bonny Gas Transport Company and chaired Lekoil Limited.
At Maikanti Baru’s valedictory ceremony in Abuja in July 2019, Marinho recalled receiving two retirement letters during his career, saying, “I’m the only one in Nigeria who was retired twice.”
Mele Kyari later described Marinho as the “father of oil and gas industry in Nigeria”, citing his work on NNPC’s structure, refineries, pipelines and staff development.
2. Odoliyi Lolomari
Odoliyi Lolomari became NNPC Group Managing Director in April 1980. He succeeded Marinho and remained in office until August 1981.
Lolomari studied Physics at the University of London and obtained a diploma in Oil Technology from Imperial College London. He worked with the Nigerian National Oil Corporation before NNPC took over its functions.
After leaving the GMD position, Lolomari continued his career in Nigeria’s petroleum industry and later served as chairman of Frontier Oil Limited.
3. Lawrence A. Amu
Lawrence A. Amu served as NNPC Group Managing Director from October 1981 to January 1984. He received the appointment while working in Canada on the final engineering designs for the Egbin Power Station.
Amu studied engineering at Imperial College of Science and Technology in London. His career included engineering and management roles in Nigeria’s energy sector.
He left the NNPC GMD position in January 1984, after which Festus Marinho returned for his second term.
4. Aret Adams
Aret Adams became NNPC Group Managing Director in November 1985. He took over after Marinho’s second term and remained in office until April 1990.
Adams worked as an engineer in Nigeria’s petroleum industry before becoming NNPC GMD. His tenure lasted more than four years.
Thomas Maurice Asuquo John succeeded him in April 1990.
5. Thomas Maurice Asuquo John
Thomas Maurice Asuquo John became NNPC Group Managing Director in April 1990. He served until June 1992.
John built his career in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry before taking charge of NNPC. He later served as a non-executive director of South Atlantic Petroleum and United Bank for Africa and became Executive Chairman of Hydropec Engineering Services.
NNPC Limited announced his death in December 2023 at the age of 84 and described him as an oil and gas industry professional.
6. Edmund Maduabebe Daukoru
Edmund Maduabebe Daukoru served as NNPC Group Managing Director from June 1992 to October 1993. Before joining NNPC, he spent years with Shell and worked in petroleum exploration.
Daukoru studied Geology and later earned a PhD from Imperial College London. He became Presidential Adviser on Petroleum and Energy in 2003 after leaving NNPC.
He later served as Minister of State for Energy and became Secretary-General of OPEC in 2006.
7. Chamberlain O. Oyibo
Chamberlain O. Oyibo became NNPC Group Managing Director in November 1993. He served until August 1995.
Oyibo studied Geology at the University of Ibadan and began his oil industry career with Texaco Overseas. He later worked with the Ministry of Petroleum and held management positions at Nigeria’s refineries.
Before becoming NNPC GMD, Oyibo served as managing director of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Corporation.
8. Dalhatu Bayero
Dalhatu Bayero served as NNPC Group Managing Director from August 1995 to May 1999. He succeeded Chamberlain Oyibo and remained in office until Jackson Gaius-Obaseki took over.
Bayero worked as an engineer before becoming NNPC GMD. His tenure covered the final years of military rule before Nigeria returned to civilian government in 1999.
9. Jackson Gaius-Obaseki
Jackson Gaius-Obaseki became NNPC Group Managing Director in May 1999 and served until November 2003.
Obaseki studied Geology at the University of Ibadan and joined NNPC in 1972. He held several positions within the corporation before President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him GMD.
During his tenure, NNPC changed its crude oil marketing arrangements. The corporation cancelled annual crude oil and fuel oil sales contracts as part of reforms under the Obasanjo administration.
10. Funsho Kupolokun
Funsho Kupolokun became NNPC Group Managing Director in November 2003. He served until August 2007.
Before becoming GMD, Kupolokun served as Group Executive Director for Commercial and Investment. He also worked as Special Assistant to President Olusegun Obasanjo on Petroleum Matters.
His NNPC career covered commercial operations, investment and petroleum policy.
11. Abubakar Lawal Yar’Adua
Abubakar Lawal Yar’Adua served as NNPC Group Managing Director from August 2007 to January 2009.
Yar’Adua joined NNPC through the National Youth Service Corps and worked at the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company. He later held several management positions within NNPC before becoming GMD.
He studied Chemical Technology at Sofia University in Bulgaria and later obtained a master’s degree. His professional experience included refinery and petrochemical operations.
12. Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo
Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo became NNPC Group Managing Director in January 2009 and served until April 2010.
Barkindo studied Political Science at Ahmadu Bello University and obtained an MBA from Southeastern University in Washington, DC. He spent much of his career at NNPC before becoming GMD.
After leaving NNPC, Barkindo moved into international energy diplomacy. He became Secretary-General of OPEC in 2016 and remained in the position until his death in July 2022.
13. Shehu Ladan
Shehu Ladan served as NNPC Group Managing Director from April to May 2010. His tenure lasted only a few weeks.
Ladan joined Nigeria’s oil and gas industry in 1990 and later held senior positions at NNPC. He became Group General Manager of Human Resources in 2004 before moving to Nigeria LNG.
He later served as NNPC Group Executive Director for Commercial and Investment before returning as GMD in April 2010.
14. Augustine Olusegun Oniwon
Augustine Olusegun Oniwon became NNPC Group Managing Director in May 2010 and served until June 2012.
Oniwon spent his career at NNPC and held technical and management positions before reaching the GMD position. His experience covered engineering and operations within the corporation.
Andrew Yakubu succeeded him in June 2012.
15. Andrew Laah Yakubu
Andrew Laah Yakubu served as NNPC Group Managing Director from June 2012 to August 2014. President Goodluck Jonathan appointed him after Augustine Oniwon left office.
Yakubu worked in Nigeria’s refinery sector before becoming Executive Director of Operations at NETCO. He joined NNPC in 2006 and later became Group Managing Director.
President Jonathan removed Yakubu from office in August 2014 and appointed Joseph Thlama Dawha as his successor.
16. Joseph Thlama Dawha
Joseph Thlama Dawha became NNPC Group Managing Director in August 2014. Before his appointment, he served as Group Executive Director of Exploration and Production at NNPC.
Dawha remained in office until August 2015, when Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu succeeded him.
17. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu
Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu served as NNPC Group Managing Director from August 2015 to July 2016.
Kachikwu had a legal background and worked in the oil and gas industry before joining the federal government. He later became Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.
Maikanti Baru succeeded him as NNPC GMD in July 2016.
18. Maikanti Baru
Maikanti Baru became NNPC Group Managing Director in July 2016 and served until July 2019.
Baru trained as an engineer and spent much of his career at NNPC. Before becoming GMD, he served as Group General Manager of National Petroleum Investment Management Services.
President Muhammadu Buhari approved Mele Kyari’s appointment as his successor in July 2019.
19. Mele Kolo Kyari
Mele Kolo Kyari became NNPC Group Managing Director in July 2019. Before his appointment, he headed NNPC’s Crude Oil Marketing Division and represented Nigeria at OPEC.
Kyari remained NNPC’s head after the corporation became NNPC Limited in July 2022. Under the new structure, he served as Group Chief Executive Officer rather than Group Managing Director.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu removed Kyari from office on 2 April 2025 and appointed Bashir Bayo Ojulari as Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited.
Kyari was therefore the last NNPC managing director under the historical GMD title.
NNPC Managing Directors Before Mele Kyari
Mele Kyari succeeded Maikanti Baru in July 2019.
The immediate sequence before Kyari was:
Maikanti Baru: 2016–2019
Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu: 2015–2016
Joseph Thlama Dawha: 2014–2015
Andrew Yakubu: 2012–2014
Augustine Olusegun Oniwon: 2010–2012
NNPC GMDs From 1999
The NNPC leadership sequence from 1999 covers:
- Jackson Gaius-Obaseki — 1999–2003
- Funsho Kupolokun — 2003–2007
- Abubakar Lawal Yar’Adua — 2007–2009
- Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo — 2009–2010
- Shehu Ladan — 2010
- Augustine Olusegun Oniwon — 2010–2012
- Andrew Yakubu — 2012–2014
- Joseph Thlama Dawha — 2014–2015
- Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu — 2015–2016
- Maikanti Baru — 2016–2019
- Mele Kyari — 2019–2025
The sequence covers the transition from the Obasanjo-era leadership to the current NNPC Limited structure.
FAQs: List of NNPC Managing Directors
Who is the current NNPC CEO?
Bashir Bayo Ojulari is the current Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited.
Who was the first NNPC managing director?
Festus Remilekun Marinho was the first NNPC Group Managing Director. He took office in July 1977.
Who was the last NNPC managing director?
Mele Kolo Kyari was the last NNPC Group Managing Director. He served from July 2019 until April 2025.
Who replaced Mele Kyari at NNPC?
Bashir Bayo Ojulari replaced Mele Kyari as Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited in April 2025.
How many NNPC managing directors have there been?
There have been 19 individual NNPC Group Managing Directors. Festus Marinho served two separate terms, giving the historical list 20 entries.
Is Bashir Bayo Ojulari an NNPC managing director?
No. Bashir Bayo Ojulari is the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited.
Who was NNPC GMD before Mele Kyari?
Maikanti Baru was NNPC GMD before Mele Kyari. He served from July 2016 to July 2019.
Who was NNPC GMD before Maikanti Baru?
Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu served as NNPC Group Managing Director before Maikanti Baru. He served from August 2015 to July 2016.
When was NNPC established?
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation was established in 1977.
What is the difference between NNPC GMD and GCEO?
GMD means Group Managing Director and was the title used for the head of the former NNPC structure. GCEO means Group Chief Executive Officer and is the title used by NNPC Limited. Bashir Bayo Ojulari holds the GCEO position.
