FG sacks NNPC GMD, board as Mr. Andrew Yakubu takes over from Mr Austen Oniwon as GDM NNPC

THE gale of change unleashed by President Goodluck Jonathan last week to rev up his administration which saw the removal of his erstwhile National Security Adviser, Gen. Andrew Azazi, hit top gear, yesterday, sweeping theNigerian National Petroleum Corporation. In one fell swoop he retired the entire management team led by Mr Austen Oniwon.

Mr. Andrew Yakubu, was appointed as the new Group Managing Director.

A statement from the Presidency said the appointments is to further strengthen the ongoing reforms and transformation of the nation’s petroleum sector, and to achieve greater transparency and accountability in government.

The statement stated: “The incumbent Group Managing Director, Engr. Austen Oniwon, and Mr. Michael Arokodare, outgoing Group Executive Director (Finance and Accounts); Mr. Philip Chukwu, outgoing Group Executive Director (Refineries & Petrochemicals), and Engr. Billy Agha, outgoing Group Executive Director (Engineering & Technology) are to proceed on retirement.

“The re-composition of the executive management team of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is as follows:

1.      Engr. Andrew Yakubu   -      Group Managing Director
2.      Mr. Bernard O.N. Otti        -    Group Executive Director (Finance and Accounts)
3.      Engr. Abiye Membere      -       Group Executive Director (Exploration and Production)
4.      Dr. Peter S. Nmadu     -           Group Executive Director (Corporate Services)
5.      Engr. Anthony Ogbuigwe        – Group Executive Director (Refineries & Petrochemicals)
6.      Dr. Attahir B. Yusuf     -           Group Executive Director (Commercial & Investments)
7.     Dr. David Ige               -           Group Executive Director (Gas & Power)

The incoming Group Managing Director, Engr. Andrew Yakubu, graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1979 with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He joined the NNPC in 1980. Positions he has held in the corporation include Managing Director of the Warri Refining and Petrochemicals Company and Group Executive Director (Exploration and Production). Engr. Yakubu is an indigene of Kaduna State and a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.

President Jonathan also approved the appointment of Engr. Victor Briggs as the new Managing Director of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC.

Until his appointment as Group Managing Director in May 2010, Austin Oniwon, was the Group Executive Director, Refining and Petrochemicals (GED, R&P). Oniwon was born on April 1, 1951, in Okene, Kogi State, North Central Nigeria.