The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has dismissed the Managing Directors of its three key refineries as part of a major shake-up by the new management.

Those affected include the heads of the Port Harcourt Refining Company, Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company and the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company.

In addition to the refinery chiefs, several senior officials of the national oil firm were relieved of their duties.

Among them is Bala Wunti, former Chief of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), a subsidiary of NNPC Ltd.

The company also directed staff members with less than a year to retirement to proceed on exit.

The shakeup began after the removal of Mele Kyari as Group Chief Executive Officer on April 2, 2025.

This move has led to the exit of several senior officials who were closely associated with the former CEO.

Among those affected are Bala Wunti, who previously headed the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), Ibrahim Onoja, the former managing director of the Kaduna Refinery, and Lawal Sade, who served as chief compliance officer and once led NNPC Trading.

Their exits are part of what insiders describe as the early phase of broader changes within the company.

The new management also asked many officials with one year to their various retirement dates to leave.

The leadership overhaul gained momentum following the appointment of Bayo Ojulari as Kyari’s successor.

Since taking over, Ojulari has pushed for internal restructuring aimed at repositioning the company’s operations.

One noticeable change is the increased presence of women in high-ranking roles.

Maryam Idrisu now leads NNPC Trading, which handles crude oil transactions, while Obioma Abangwu has taken the role of chief liaison officer for board matters.

Many within the company are said to view the changes as a fresh start, coming at a time when the NNPC is under pressure to improve performance and rebuild trust.

The recent dismissals suggest that more adjustments may follow in the coming weeks.