Nigeria’s oil sector has taken a new step on the global stage as Maryamu Idris, Managing Director of NNPC Trading Limited, has been officially appointed as Nigeria’s National Representative to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The announcement, confirmed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), marks a defining moment for both Idris and the country’s role in international energy policy.
In its statement, NNPC praised the appointment, declaring: “We commend Maryamu Idris, Managing Director of NNPC Trading Limited, for her new role as Nigeria’s National Representative at OPEC.” The appointment means Idris will serve as Nigeria’s lead technical voice within OPEC’s Economic Commission Board, where key energy decisions and policy frameworks are debated and shaped.
Her responsibilities will involve balancing domestic energy interests with Nigeria’s commitments to OPEC, while also collaborating closely with the OPEC Governor, NUPRC, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, and other stakeholders. This dual position, combining her leadership at NNPC Trading with her new OPEC role, places her at the center of energy diplomacy, where decisions have far-reaching implications for oil prices, market stability, and Nigeria’s revenue streams.
Idris brings more than two decades of experience in the oil and gas sector. A graduate of Economics from the University of Abuja, she went on to earn a Master’s degree in Energy Economics from the University of Dundee in Scotland, sharpening her expertise in global energy dynamics.
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Her professional career began in 1999 at the Bureau of Public Enterprises. She later served as Petroleum Economist and Trust Fund Adviser at the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative between 2006 and 2009, where she played a role in pushing transparency in Nigeria’s petroleum industry. Idris joined NNPC soon after, rising steadily through the Crude Oil Marketing Division. Her roles included Supervisor of Market Research, Deputy Manager of Pricing and Performance, and Manager of Pricing and Valuation.
At NNPC Trading Limited, she made her mark as Executive Director of Crude and Condensate, later becoming Executive Director of Planning and Commercial, before being elevated to Managing Director in April 2025.
Her new appointment signals a fresh era for Nigeria within OPEC, as the organization faces shifting dynamics in global oil demand, the energy transition, and price volatility. With her experience and track record, Maryamu Idris is now positioned to play a pivotal role in ensuring Nigeria’s voice is both heard and respected at the highest level of global oil negotiations.
