Baru replaces Kachikwu as NNPC GMD

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Maikanti Kacalla Baru as the new managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Femi Adesina, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, confirmed this in a statement.

Baru replaces Ibe Kachikwu, who was appointed in August, and retained the position two months later when he was appointed minister of state for petroleum.

The statement said the board of the corporation, which was dissolved last year, had been reconstituted.

Below is the composition of  the new board: Ibe Kachikwu, chairman; Maikanti Kacalla Baru, group managing director; permanent secretary of the ministry of finance.

Abba Kyari, Thomas John, Pius Akinyelure, Tajuddeen Umar, Mohammed Lawal, and Yusuf Lawal are members.

Buhari urged the new board to ensure the successful delivery of the mandate of the NNPC “and serve the nation by upholding the public trust placed on them in managing this critical national asset”.

Back in October, TheCable reported that Karu, who was then the group executive director (GED) for exploration, was being tipped for the job.

Karu hails from Bauchi state.