By Dipo Olowookere
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) now has a new Group Managing Director (GMD) and he is Mr Mele Kolo Kyari, who is now the 19th GMD of the state-owned oil agency.
Mr Kyari was appointed to the position by President Muhammadu Buhari, but he will fully assume office on Sunday, July 7, 2019, a statement issued on Thursday by the NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs, Mr Ndu Ughamadu, said.
Until his new appointment, Mr Kyari, a geologist, was Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division of NNPC and also doubled, since May 13, 2018, as Nigeria’s National Representative to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Also, the President announced the appointment of seven new Chief Operating Officers (COOs), directing them to work with the current occupiers of the various offices till July 7, 2019 towards a smooth transition on 8th July 2019, when their appointments would take effect to ensure a smooth transition.
The newly appointed Chief Operating Officers are Mr Roland Onoriode Ewubare (South-South) – Chief Operating Officer, Upstream; Engr. Mustapha Yinusa Yakubu (North Central) – Chief Operating Officer Refining and Petrochemicals; Engr. Yusuf Usman (North East) – Chief Operating Officer, Gas and Power; Ms Lawrencia Nwadiabuwa Ndupu (South East), Chief Operating Officer Ventures; Mr Umar Isa Ajiya (North West) – Chief Financial Officer; Engr. Adeyemi Adetunji (South West) – Chief Operating Officer, Downstream; and Mr Farouk Garba Said (North West) – Chief Operating Officer, Corporate Services.
However, President Buhari stressed that the appointment of Mr Garba should be effective from June 28, 2019, as he is replacing a retiring Chief Operating Officer.
Mallam Kyari is a quintessential crude oil marketer with prerequisite certification and outfield pedigree in Petroleum Economics and crude oil and gas trading.
In the last 27 years he had traversed the entire value chain of the Petroleum Industry, with exceptional records of performance.
Under his watch, the Crude Oil Marketing Division has recorded noticeable transformation in the management and sales of the various Nigeria’s crude oil grades via an infusion of transparency and automation of the processes, the release by the NNPC spokesperson, stated.
Meanwhile, Mr Ughamadu stated in the release that the current NNPC Group Managing Director, Mr Maikanti Baru, had congratulated the new appointees.
