Why President Buhari Removed NNP’s GMD-Ughamadu

The management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has explained that  the removal of its Group Managing Director(GMD), Dr. Maikanti Baru by President Muhammadu Buhari, was occasioned by reason of his attainment the mandatory retirement age.

President Buhari had on earlier this week appointed Mele Kolo Kyari as the new GMD of NNPC and consequently relieved Baru of his responsibility.

In a statement on Thursday by the corporation’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs, Ndu Ughamadu, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu , explained that Baru is due for statutory retirement on July 7, 2019 on the ground of attainment of 60 years retirement age.

NNPC further explained that Kyari doubled, since 13th May, 2018, as Nigeria’s National Representative to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). It said Kyari would be bringing to his new appointment more than 27 years of experience in the various value chains of the Petroleum Industry.

Ughamadu further stated that, Roland Onoriode Ewubare who hails from the South-South region of the Country and is appointed Chief Operating Officer, Upstream, was until his new appointment Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investments and Management Services, a Corporate Services (NAPIMS) unit of the corporation headquartered in Lagos. Before his NAPIMS’ appointment, he was Managing Director of the Integrated Data Services Limited (IDSL), a seismic data acquisition company of NNPC based in Benin.

The statement explained that Engr. Mustapha Yinusa Yakubu hails from North Central region of the Country and is newly appointed as Chief Operating Officer, Refining and Petrochemicals. Until his new appointment, he was the Managing Director of National Engineering and Technical Company Limited (NETCO).

Continuing, NNPC said that, “Engr. Yusuf Usman hails from North East and is Chief Operating Officer, Gas and Power. Until his new appointment, Engr. Usman was Senior Technical Assistant to the Group Managing Director of the corporation.

“Ms. Lawrencia Nwadiabuwa Ndupu, from South East, is newly appointed as Chief Operating Officer, Ventures. She, until her new appointment was the Group General Manager, NNPC Oil Field Services, established to provide technical services to players in the Industry.

“Mr. Umar Isa Ajiya, from North West region of the Country who holds the new position of Chief Financial Officer, was until his recent appointment, the Managing Director of Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) of NNPC, a Downstream arm of the corporation. Prior to holding the position as the Managing Director of PPMC, he was the corporation’s Group General Manager Corporate Planning and Strategy (CP&S).

“Engr. Adeyemi Adetunji, who is from the South West region of the Country, holding the new appointment of Chief Operating Officer, Downstream, was until his new appointment the Managing Director of NNPC Retail Limited, a Downstream Marketing Company of NNPC. Prior to his position as the MD of the Downstream Marketing Company, he was General Manager, Transformation Department, a Think-thank unit of the corporation.

“Mr. Farouk Garba Said who hails from North West and holds the new position of Chief Operating Officer, Corporate Services, was Group General Manager, Engineering and Technology Division of NNPC. Mr. Said would be taking over from the present occupier of the office who retires statutorily on 28th June, 2019.”

“The new appointees have been directed to work with the current occupiers of the various offices by President Buhari till 7th July, 2019 to ensure a smooth transition on 8th July 2019 when their appointments would take effect.”