President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of the Board and Management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, with Senator Margret Chuba Okadigbo, representing the Southeast, as Board Chairman.

The President had on September 19, 2021, appointed a Board, Chaired by Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, at the point of the registration of the NNPC Limited, but later suspended the inauguration of the Board indefinitely on November 11, 2021.

However, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, the President appointed the new Board and Management of the company, replacing the Chairmanship with Senator Okadigbo, widow of his one-time presidential running-mate and former Senate President, Dr Chuba Okadigbo.

The President also named the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Mele Kyari, as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company and Mr Umar Ajiya, as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

“President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed the Board and Management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, in accordance with the power vested in him under Section 59(2) of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.

“Chairman of the Board is Senator Margret Chuba Okadigbo (South East), Mele Kolo Kyari, Chief Executive Officer, and Umar I. Ajiya, Chief Financial Officer.