President Goodluck Jonathan Fires NNPC Boss, Engr. Austen Oniwon

President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the re-composition of the executive management team of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

This was announced in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, who said the decision of the President was to further strengthen the ongoing reforms and transformation of Nigeria’s Petroleum sector, and in furtherance of efforts to achieve greater transparency  and accountability in government.

The new management team now includes  Engr. Andrew Yakubu as Group Managing Director, Mr. Bernard O.N. Otti as Group Executive Director (Finance and Accounts), Engr. Abiye Membere as Group Executive Director (Exploration and Production), Dr. Peter S. Nmadu as Group Executive Director (Corporate Services), Engr. Anthony Ogbuigwe as Group Executive Director (Refineries & Petrochemicals), Dr. Attahir B. Yusuf as Group Executive Director (Commercial & Investments) and Dr. David Ige as Group Executive Director (Gas & Power).

The incoming Group Managing Director, Engr. Andrew Yakubu graduated from theAhmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1979 with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He joined the NNPC in 1980. Positions he has held in the corporation include Managing Director of the Warri Refining and Petrochemicals Company and Group Executive Director (Exploration and Production). Engr. Yakubu is an indigene of Kaduna Stateand a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.

President Jonathan has also approved the appointment of Engr. Victor Briggs as the new Managing Director of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).

The incumbent Group Managing Director, Engr. Austen Oniwon, and Mr. Michael Arokodare (outgoing Group Executive Director (Finance and Accounts), Mr. Philip Chukwu, outgoing Group Executive Director (Refineries & Petrochemicals), and Engr. Billy Agha, outgoing Group Executive Director (Engineering & Technology) are to proceed on retirement.

President Jonathan commended the outgoing directors for their service to the nation and urges the new management team to be fully committed to rapidly implementing the critical interventions needed to positively transform Nigeria’s petroleum industry.