Jonathan sacks NNPC GMD, board

Former GMD Mr. Austen Oniwon

•Yakubu replaces Oniwon

An earthquake hit the National Petroleum Commission (NNPC) yesterday. 

Group Managing Director Mr. Austen Oniwon was removed. Gone with him is the oil giant’s entire management board.

Andrew Yakubu, an engineer, is now the GMD. Yakubu graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria in 1979, with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He joined the NNPC in 1980. He has been Managing Director of the Warri Refining and Petrochemicals Company and Group Executive Director (Exploration and Production). Yakubu is an indigene of Kaduna State and a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).

According to a statement by presidential spokesman Dr. Reuben Abati, the sack is to further strengthen the ongoing reforms and transformation of the petroleum sector.

Besides, he stated, the action of the President was in furtherance of efforts to achieve greater transparency and accountability in government.

The statement reads:

“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, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has approved the re-composition of the executive management team of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as follows:

“Andrew Yakubu - Group Managing Director;  Mr. Bernard O.N. Otti - Group Executive Director (Finance and Accounts); Abiye Membere - Group Executive Director (Exploration and Production); Dr. Peter S. Nmadu - Group Executive Director (Corporate Services); Anthony Ogbuigwe - Group Executive Director (Refineries & Petrochemicals); Dr. Attahir B. Yusuf - Group Executive Director (Commercial & Investments); Dr. David Ige - Group Executive Director (Gas & Power).

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

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

“President Jonathan commends 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.”

Oniwon spent 14 months after he was due for retirement.

Oniwon was due for retirement on April 1, 2011, when he turned 60, which is the mandatory retirement age. But the presidency extended his tenure, which by the reorganisation ended yesterday.

Chukwu had about two years to retire. He served  as the Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) before being moved to head the Research and Development Division  where he became the Managing Director of National Engineering and Technical Company (NETCO). He was promoted to Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production appointed and later Group Executive Director, Refineries and Petrochemicals, a position he held until yesterday.