Legal team size: 70+ across the Group

Major legal advisers/ external counsel: Olaniwun Ajayi LP, Banwo & Ighodalo, Clifford Chance, Stephenson Harwood

How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience?

NNPC is always in the eye of the storm, so key attributes are patience and calmness, consulting widely but taking the final legal decision, making sure the Company is given the best legal advice to ensure final commercial and policy decisions are taken based on solid and reliable information, and avoid pouring kerosene on smouldering embers.

In your opinion, what are the main trends affecting your work now (these can be legal, political, economic or business-based)?

While NNPC is no longer a government corporation but is now a private limited liability company, albeit owned by the Federation, people still look at us as a government entity and there is a trust deficit. But our deeds and delivery of our commercial targets is slowly changing the narrative. NNPC is the largest oil company in Africa by asset base (over $150 billion of assets) and economically and commercially, we are still growing the company and revenues.

What strategic priorities are guiding your legal team into 2025?

Same as in previous years. Give our clients (the management, subsidiaries and company divisions) the best possible legal advice, ensure delivery of our services in a fast but qualitative manner, represent the new NNPC Limited in the best way possible.