President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Maikanti Kacalla Baru as the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), even as he approved the composition of a new Board .
Baru, a former Group General Manager in the NNPC is to replace Ibe Kachikwu, who has until now acted as the Group Managing Director and as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.
A statement by presidential spokesman Femi Adesina, stated that Kachikwu will now concentrate on his position as the minister of state for Petroleum Resources and Chairman of the newly composited board.
Kachikwu who was appointed by President Buhari in August Last year had held the position amidst speculations of change by the President. He was appointed as the minister of state Petroleum alongside other ministers in November last year.
The President’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari is also a member of the board.
The statement stated that the President’s decision is as provided for under Section 1(2) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Act of 1997, as amended.
The new board is composed of Chairman-Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum; Group Managing Director- Maikanti Kacalla Baru; Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance.
Other members of the board include Abba Kyari, Thomas M.A John, Pius O. Akinyelure, Tajuddeen Umar, Mohammed Lawal, and Yusuf Lawal.
The President urged the new board to ensure the successful delivery of the mandate of the NNPC, “and serve the nation by upholding the public trust placed on them in managing this critical national asset”.
