NNPC COO sacked in major shakeup ahead of PIB implementation

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has announced the disengagement of its Chief Operating Officer, Gas & Power, Engr. Yusuf Usman, in a major shakeup.

The corporation’s former Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr Garba Deen Muhammad, has been reinstated.

A number of top managers were also redeployed or disengaged.

The corporation said the shakeup was in anticipation of the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

The NNPC, in a statement, said: “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).

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

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

Deen Mohammed is to take over the position from Dr Kennie Obateru, who made the disclosure in a statement.

Mohammed held the position when Dr Ibe Kachikwu was the Group Managing Director of the corporation.

Obateru said, “The new appointments include that of Mr Garba Deen Muhammad, who will take over from Dr Kennie Obateru as the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Corporation.”

He noted that in a bid to strengthen and reposition the towards attaining global excellence and profitability, the management of the corporation had announced the promotion and redeployment of some staff to fill key vacant positions.

The statement disclosed that Mr Billy Okoye had been appointed as 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, 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.