NNPC reshuffles management as Garba Deen Muhammad returns as spokesperson

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has appointed Garba Deen Muhammad as the new group general manager of its public affair division.

In a statement on Monday, Kennie Obateru, former NNPC spokesperson, announced the promotion and redeployment of senior staff of the corporation.

Until his latest appointment, Muhammad was special adviser on media to Timipre Sylva, minister of state for petroleum resources.

Muhammad had held the position of NNPC spokesperson when Ibe Kachikwu was the group managing director of the corporation.

“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,” the statement reads.

The NNPC also announced the disengagement of Yusuf Usman, its chief operating officer (COO), gas and power.

It noted that other chief operating officer positions in the corporation had now been re-designated as group executive directors, in alignment with the rules of Company and Allied Matters Act.

This, it said, was in preparation for the new status of the corporation as a limited liability company, post-Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

According to the statement, Billy Okoye has been appointed as the new group executive director, ventures & business development while Aisha Ahmadu-Katagum was promoted to the position of group executive director, corporate services.

Prior to their new appointments, Okoye and Ahmadu-Katagum were group general managers, crude oil marketing division (COMD) and supply chain management division in the corporation, respectively.

Adeyemi Adetunji, formerly chief operating officer, business & ventures development, becomes the group executive director, downstream, while Mohammed Abdulkabir Ahmed, formerly chief operating officer, corporate services, becomes the group executive director, gas & power.

The statement further quoted Mele Kyari, group managing director of the corporation, as saying the new appointments would enable the NNPC live up to the expectations of Nigerians and achieve its vision of becoming a world-class energy company of choice.