Buhari appoints Baru NNPC GMD

ABUJA—President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Dr. Maikanti Baru as new Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. He also approved the composition of the board of the corporation, which is provided for under Section 1(2) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Act of 1997, as amended. The new board is chaired by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, with the Group Managing Director, NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance as members. Other members include Mallam Abba Kyari, Dr. Thomas John, Dr. Pius Akinyelure, Dr. Tajuddeen Umar; Mallam Mohammed Lawal and Mallam Yusuf Lawal. In a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, yesterday, President Buhari urged the new board to ensure the successful delivery of the mandate of NNPC, and “serve the nation by upholding the public trust placed on them in managing this critical national asset.” The reconstitution of the NNPC Board, with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources as Chairman, follows the pattern adopted by past governments. In the immediate past administration of former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke was the Chairman of the Board reconstituted on July 17, 2012. However, apart from the first meeting of the Board after reconstitution, it never met again till it was dissolved by President Muhammadu Buhari in June 2015.