Photo caption: NNPC Ltd logo
By Emeka Ugwuanyi
The Federal Government has sacked the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Mr. Umar Ajiya and the Executive Vice President (EVP) Upstream, NNPC Ltd, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa A. Eyesan.
A statement by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd, Olufemi O Soneye, stated that “the Board of Directors of NNPC Limited is pleased to announce a series of strategic leadership appointments. These changes reflect our continued dedication to enhancing corporate governance, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring long-term success in Nigeria’s energy sector.
Photo caption: Former Chief Financial Officer (CFO), NNPC Ltd, Mr. Umar Ajiya
“The following key appointments have been made:
“1. Mr. Adedapo A. Segun has been appointed as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Mr. Segun previously served as the Executive Vice President, Downstream, where he made significant contributions to the company’s downstream operations.
“2. Mr. Isiyaku Abdullahi has been named Executive Vice President (EVP), Downstream.
“3. Mr. Udobong Ntia has been appointed Executive Vice President (EVP), Upstream.
“These appointments align with NNPC Limited’s commitment to building a unified and competent leadership team to drive operational excellence and support the organization’s strategic objectives.
Photo caption: Former Executive Vice President (EVP) Upstream, NNPC Ltd, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa A. Eyesan.
“The Board and Management also extend their deepest appreciation to Mr. Umar Ajiya and Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa A. Eyesan for their outstanding dedication and service to NNPC Limited.
“NNPC Limited remains committed to achieving operational excellence, enhancing global competitiveness, and ensuring financial sustainability, while prioritizing the interests of the Nigerian public in the petroleum industry.”
It would be recalled that the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), NNPC Ltd, Mallam Mele Kyari and the former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Mr. Umar Ajiya, in April 2023, were in the news for the wrong reason. The number one and two of the national oil company reportedly paid themselves gratuities that ran into billions for just transiting as topmost officials from the former Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to the current Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCLtd).
The huge benefits they paid themselves when they were not actually leaving the service of the national oil company didn’t settle well with Nigerians. The two bigheads
However, the former spokesman of NNPC, Garba Deen Muhammad, rose to their defence. He issued a press statement justifying payments of such outrageous benefits to themselves while still members of staff of the national oil company.
“The payments were legitimate and deserving. The payments were benefits that accrued to Kyari and Ajiya from the defunct Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which recently transited into Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL),” Garba Deen Muhammad said in the press release.
According to industry stakeholders, NNPC Limited still needs further cleansing and sanitization to put it on the right pedestal.
