Updated: Massive Shakeup In NNPC’s Senior Management

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has announced a major shakeup in the executive and senior management cadres of the Corporation.

According to a release on Monday night by the Corporatuon’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs division, Dr Kennie Obateru, who was also affected by the exercise, the change of guards is in keepung with the vision to place the Corporation on a more assured ground for excellence in line with global best practise:

“In a bid to strengthen and reposition the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) towards attaining global excellence and profitability, the Management of the Corporation has announced the promotion and redeployment of some staff to fill key vacant positions.

“Mr. Billy Okoye has been appointed the new Group Executive Director, Ventures & Business Development while Mrs. Aisha Ahmadu-Katagum has been promoted to the position of Group Executive Director, Corporate Services.

“Until their new appointments, Mr. Okoye and Mrs. Ahmadu-Katagum were Group General Managers, Crude Oil Marketing Division (COMD) and Supply Chain Management Division in the Corporation, respectively.

“Engr. Adeyemi Adetunji, formerly Chief Operating Officer, Business & Ventures Development, becomes the Group Executive Director, Downstream, while Mr. Mohammed Abdulkabir Ahmed, formerly Chief Operating Officer, Corporate Services, becomes the Group Executive Director, Gas & Power.

The statement also clarified on the change of nomenclature for the top executives in its new management structure.

“Other Chief Operating Officer positions in the Corporation have now been redesignated as Group Executive Directors (GEDs), in alignment with the rules of Company & Allied Matters Act (CAMA), preparatory to the new status of the Corporation as a Limited Liability Company, post-Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

In a move that would take many by surprise, the COO of Gas and Power, Engr Yusuf Usman ceases to operate in that position. The statement is unclear about the future of the top executive who until the announcement standard bearer for gas revolution in the NNPC.

“The repositioning also saw the disengagement of Engr. Yusuf Usman, formerly Chief Operating Officer, Gas & Power, ” the release stated.

Also affected is the Group Public Affairs Division, where the Group General Manager, Dr Kennie Obateru, a recent inductee to the fellowship of the Nigeria Institue of Public Relations (NIPR), is to step aside for Garba Deen Muhammed after a meritorious service as the group spokesperson of the Corporation.

Speaking on the Development, Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Mallam Mele Kyari, said the new appointments would enable the Corporation live up to the expectations of Nigerians and achieve its vision of becoming a world-class energy company of choice.