NNPC GMD appointment: NETTI, OPEC express confidence on transparency of new leadership
Michael Ajayi and Joy Obakeye, Lagos
The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) have expressed confidence in the transparency and accountability in the operations of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) under Mele Kolo Kyari as the incoming Group Managing Director (GMD).
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday approved the appointment of Mele Kyari as the corporation’s I9th Group Managing Director (GMD), replacing the incumbent, Maikanti Baru, who retires later this month.
According NEITI’s Executive Secretary, Waziri Adio, the choice of Kyari’s appointment is well-deserved and an intimation of more openness and reforms in the national Oil company, explaining that the new NNPC boss commitments to the values of EITI is not in doubt.
“On behalf of the Board, Management and Staff, we do hope that transparency and accountability will be taking notches higher and indeed mainstreamed in the operations of NNPC under his watch”, NETTI said.
He further explained that as a member of the global EITI working group on commodity trading transparency, Mele Kyari’s appointment has placed him in a vantage position to push the frontiers of openness and to work more closely with NEITI and the global EITI to implement remedial issues in NEITI’s reports.
He added that the implementation of the findings of NEITI’s reports will not just be effective for operations of NNPC but also for optimisation of benefits of the oil and gas sector to Nigeria and Nigerians.
Also commenting on the well-deserved appointment, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Economic Commission Board (ECB) and the staff of the OPEC Secretariat conveyed their sincere congratulatory message to the new NNPC GMD.
In a statement by the OPEC Secretary General, Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, Kyari was said to have secured his appointment on the basis of his performance.
“This appointment has come as no surprise and it is a testament to your exemplary record and exceptional performance over the many years you have worked for NNPC in a variety of strategic roles.
You have earned the respect of your colleagues in the ECB where you have conducted yourself with gravitas and greatly contributed to the discussions and decisions of this body”, Barkindo said.
Kyari’s appointment has, however, opened a channel of exposure for his credibility in the past years, as an expert in crude oil marketing and currently Nigeria’s representative at OPEC, he provides leadership and participates in engagements relating to Crude oil, Gas production, and associated market issues.
Kyari was NNPC’s former General Manager, Crude Oil Stock Management, 2014-2015 and has also participated in various deepwater projects across the globe.
Kyari as head of Crude Oil Marketing Division of the NNPC has ensured optimum determination and secured government’s equities and entitlements of crude oil, Natural Gas Liquids, NGL, Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG production from various fiscal arrangements.
