By Fredrick Wright
President Muhammadu Buhari, who doubles as the minister of petroleum resources has directed the incorporation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd).
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said Buhari’s directives is in line with his capacity as Minister of Petroleum Resources.
He explained that the directive is also in consonance with Section 53(1) of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, which requires the Minister of Petroleum Resources to cause for the incorporation of the NNPC Limited within six months of commencement of the Act in consultation with the Minister of Finance on the nominal shares of the company.
Buhari directed the NNPC Group Managing Director, Mr Mele Kolo Kyari, to take necessary steps to ensure that the incorporation of NNPC Limited is consistent with the provisions of the PIA 2021.
Buhari, by the authority vested in him under Section 59(2) of the PIA 2021, has also “approved the appointment of the Board and Management of the NNPC Limited, with effect from the date of incorporation of the company.”
Chairman of the board is Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, while Mele Kolo Kyari and Umar I. Ajiya are Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Financial Officer, respectively.
Other board members are: Dr Tajudeen Umar (North East), Mrs Lami O. Ahmed (North Central), Mallam Mohammed Lawal (North West), Senator Margaret Chuba Okadigbo (South East), Barrister Constance Harry Marshal (South South), and Chief Pius Akinyelure (South West).
