NNPC fires heads of subsidiaries, retires 38

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has dismissed all its heads of subsidiaries and retired 38 management staff, reducing its top level personnel from 122 to 88.

Emmanuel Kachikwu, the corporation’s group managing director (GMD), attributed the development to “the federal government’s aspiration to transform the corporation into a lean, efficient, business-focused, transparent and accountable national oil company in keeping with international best practices”.

The corporation also announced the appointment of new group executive directors to man four new directorates that have been approved by the presidency.

The new directors are Maikanti Baru, group executive director, exploration and production; Isiaka Abdulrazaq, group executive director, finance and services; Dennis Ajulu, group executive director, refining and technology; and Babatunde Adeniran, group executive director, commercial and investment.

The organisation has also appointed a new company secretary/legal adviser and managing directors for strategic business units.

They are Chidi Momah, group general manager, company secretary and legal adviser; Esther Ogbue, managing director, Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC); Chinedu Ezeribe, managing director, Warri Refining and Petrochemicals Company (WRPC); Babatunde Bakare, managing director, Nigerian Gas Company (NGC);  Inuwa Ibrahim Waya, managing director, Hyson; Abubakar Mai-Bornu, managing director, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC); and Ladipo Fagbola, Managing Director, NNPC retail.

Others are Rowland Ewubare, managing director, Integrated Data Services Ltd (IDSL); Modupe Bammeke, managing director, NNPC Prpoperties; Abdulkadir Saidu, managing director, Duke Oil; and Dafe Sejebor, group general manager, Nigerian Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS).

President Muhammadu Buhari has consistently expressed dissatisfaction with the national oil firm, which has been enmeshed in different corruption allegations over the years.

On June 26, Buhari dissolved the corporation’s board and replaced its GMD about six weeks later.

A four-man committee set up by the National Economic Council (NEC) is currently examining the books of the corporation.