By John Ikani
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the incorporation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) into a company.
Buhari gave the directive to the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mele Kyari.
The development is in line with the recently signed Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
A statement on Sunday by Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina said the President in his capacity as the Minister of Petroleum Resources, acted in accordance with the provisions of Section 53(1) of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.
Apart from the incorporation of the NNPC, President Buhari also approved the appointment of the Board and Management of the NNPC Limited.
The statement by Adesina revealed that Senator Ifeanyi Ararume was appointed as Chairman of the NNPC, Mr Kyari as Chief Executive Officer and Umar Ajiya as Chief Financial Officer.
Each of the six geo-political zones in the country also has a representative on the board.
They include; “Tajudeen Umar (North East), Lami Ahmed (North Central), Mohammed Lawal (North West), Margaret Chuba Okadigbo from South East, Constance Harry Marshal also from the South South, and Pius Akinyelure (South West).”