It’s also worth noting that the credibility of these individuals has never been in doubt. Among them are those who, despite serving in turbulent times, emerged without any blemish, untainted by corruption, and trusted by both public and private stakeholders.

Ojulari himself is no stranger to transformation. As Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo), he led the Bonga deep-water asset to peak performance, increasing output by 20% and reducing costs by over 30%.

His engineering acumen and leadership won the Bonga FPSO several accolades, including “Asset of the Year.” Post-Shell, he continued his legacy at Renaissance Africa Energy, where he steered a groundbreaking $2.4 billion indigenous acquisition of Shell’s onshore assets, making a strong case for Nigerian control in the energy sector.

Together, Ojulari and his fellow board members are charting a course that reflects President Tinubu’s confidence in their ability to reform the oil and gas sector.

Their plans are ambitious yet strategic: boosting oil production to 2 million barrels per day by 2027, hitting 3 million barrels by 2030, and attracting upwards of $60 billion in investments within five years.

Add to this the roadmap for revitalizing Nigeria’s refining capacity and expanding gas infrastructure, and it becomes clear: the board isn’t asleep at the wheel they are racing to get Nigeria back on track.

Let it be said clearly: this is the first time in Nigeria’s oil history that a team of seasoned professionals, not political appointees, has been given the reins of NNPC.

That in itself is a step in the right direction. Instead of unwarranted criticism and phantom allegations, what they need is support, patience, and the space to implement long-overdue reforms.

Nigeria has lost enough time and resources to distractions. The Senate and other political actors must rise above opportunistic politics. They should support these new NNPC leaders, not sabotage them.

A true national interest conversation would focus on reform metrics, deliverables, and transparent financial reviews, not vague accusations aimed at derailing progress.

This board is capable. The president knows it. The industry knows it. The Nigerian people should come to know it, too. It’s time to cut Ojulari, Yusuf Usman, and the entire new NNPC board some slacks and let them work.

…Bamidele is the Convenor of the BAT Ideological group and a news publisher. He sent this message from Abuja.