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New NNPC GMD, Kyari, Others to Assume Office July 8
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Thursday gave further details of President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval of the appointment of a new Group Managing Director, six Chief Operating Officers and a Chief Financial Officer for the corporation.
The spokesperson, Ndu Ughamadu, said Mele Kyari would not assume office as the new GMD of NNPC until July 8, to allow Maikanti Baru effectively exit the office on July 7 after attaining the mandatory 60 years of age.
According to Mr Ughamadu, the new Group Managing Director was, until his new appointment, the Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division of NNPC. Besides, Mr Kyari doubled as Nigeria’s National Representative to the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) since May 13, 2018.
“Kyari would be bringing to his new appointment more than 27 years of experience in the various value chains of the Petroleum Industry, ” the NNPC spokesperson said.
Other appointments include Roland Onoriode Ewubare, from the South-south region, appointed as the Chief Operating Officer, Upstream
Until his new appointment, Mr Ewubare was the Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investments and Management Services, a Corporate Services (NAPIMS) unit of the corporation in Lagos.
Before his NAPIMS’ appointment, he was the Managing Director of the Integrated Data Services Limited (IDSL), a seismic data acquisition company of NNPC based in Benin City in Edo State.
Others include Mustapha Yinusa Yakubu, from North-central, appointed as Chief Operating Officer, Refining and Petrochemicals.
Until his new appointment, he was the Managing Director of National Engineering and Technical Company Limited (NETCO).
Also, Yusuf Usman from North-east was appointed the Chief Operating Officer, Gas and Power.
Until his new appointment, Mr Usman was the Senior Technical Assistant to the Group Managing Director of the corporation.
Lawrencia Nwadiabuwa Ndupu, from South-east, was named the new Chief Operating Officer, Ventures, from her previous appointment as the Group General Manager, NNPC Oil Field Services, established to provide technical services to players in the Industry.
Umar Isa Ajiya, from North-west, who holds the new position of Chief Financial Officer, was until his recent appointment, the Managing Director of Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) of NNPC, a Downstream arm of the corporation.
Prior to his new appointment, Mr Ayija was the Managing Director of Popelines and Products MarketingCompany (PPMC) as well as the corporation’s Group General Manager Corporate Planning and Strategy (CP&S).
Adeyemi Adetunji, from the South-west, who was appointed the new Chief Operating Officer, Downstream, was until his new appointment the Managing Director of NNPC Retail Limited, a Downstream Marketing Company of NNPC.
Prior to his new position as the MD of the Downstream Marketing Company, he was General Manager, Transformation Department, a Think-thank unit of the corporation.
Farouk Garba Said from North-west, holds the new position of Chief Operating Officer, Corporate Services.
He was previously the Group General Manager, Engineering and Technology Division of NNPC.
Mr Said would be taking over from the present occupier of the office who retires statutorily on June 28, 2019.
Mr Ughamadu said the new appointees have been directed to work with the current occupiers of the various offices till July 7, to ensure a smooth transition on July 8, when their appointments would take effect.
Premium Times
United States Representative Riley Moors has said further military strikes against Islamic State-linked militants in Nigeria could follow recent operations ordered by President Donald Trump, describing the actions as aimed at improving security and protecting Christian communities facing violence.
Moore made the remarks during a televised interview in which he addressed U.S. military strikes carried out on Christmas Day against militant targets in North-west Nigeria.
The strikes were conducted in coordination with the Nigerian government, according to U.S. and Nigerian officials.
“President Trump is not trying to bring war to Nigeria, he’s bringing peace and security to Nigeria and to the thousands of Christians who face horrific violence and death,” Moore said.
He said the Christmas Day strikes against Islamic State affiliates had provided hope to Christians in Nigeria, particularly in areas affected by repeated attacks during past festive periods.
According to U.S. authorities, the strikes targeted camps used by Islamic State-linked groups operating in parts of north-west Nigeria.
Nigerian officials confirmed that the operation was carried out with intelligence support from Nigerian security agencies as part of ongoing counter-terrorism cooperation between both countries.
The United States Africa Command said the operation was intended to degrade the operational capacity of extremist groups responsible for attacks on civilians and security forces.
Nigerian authorities have described the targeted groups as a threat to national security, noting their involvement in killings, kidnappings and raids on rural communities.
Moore said the strikes marked a shift from previous years in which attacks were carried out against civilians during the Christmas period. He said the U.S. administration was focused on preventing further violence by targeting militant groups before they could launch attacks.
U.S. officials have said the military action was carried out with the consent of the Nigerian government and formed part of broader security cooperation between the two countries. Nigeria has received intelligence, training and logistical support from international partners as it seeks to contain militant activity.
Moore had previously called for stronger international attention to attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria and has urged continued U.S. engagement in addressing extremist violence. He said further action would depend on developments on the ground and continued coordination with Nigerian authorities.
Nigerian officials have maintained that counter-terrorism operations are directed at armed groups threatening civilians, regardless of religion, and have reiterated their commitment to restoring security across affected regions.
World-renowned boxer Anthony Joshua on Monday survived a ghastly road accident in Makun, Ogun State.
Eyewitnesses report that the incident occurred along a busy highway of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
The vehicle carrying Joshua, a Lexus Jeep with the number plate, KRD 850 HN, reportedly collided with a stationary truck under circumstances that are still being investigated.
Joshua reportedly sustained minor injuries, while two persons were said to have died on the spot.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has cautioned that any attempt to hurriedly re‑gazette Nigeria’s new tax laws could undermine parliamentary oversight and set a dangerous constitutional precedent.
Atiku’s warning follows public scrutiny over reports that the Tax Reform Acts signed by President Bola Tinubu differ from the versions passed by the National Assembly. Lawmakers, including Abdussamad Dasuki, raised concerns that the alterations could pose serious legal and constitutional risks, noting that they were not backed by any constitutional framework.
In a statement on X, Atiku said the directive to re-gazette the Acts effectively confirms “that the gazetted version of the Tinubu Tax Act does not reflect what was duly passed by the National Assembly,” calling it “a grave constitutional issue.”
He emphasized that under Section 58 of the 1999 Constitution, a bill only becomes law after passage by both chambers, presidential assent, and gazetting.
“Gazetting is merely an administrative act of publication. It does not create, amend, or validate a law,” Atiku said, adding that any post-passage insertion, deletion, or modification without legislative approval constitutes forgery rather than a clerical error.
Atiku further warned that rushing a re-gazetting while legislative investigations are ongoing “undermines parliamentary oversight and sets a dangerous precedent,” stressing that the only lawful approach is “fresh legislative consideration, re-passage by both chambers, fresh presidential assent, and proper gazetting.”
The former vice president clarified that his position is not opposition to tax reform but a defence of constitutional order.
“This is a defence of the integrity of the legislative process and a rejection of any attempt to normalise constitutional breaches through procedural shortcuts,” he said.
The Federal government has denied wrongdoing, insisting the laws will take effect as scheduled on January 1, 2026, while the National Assembly has directed the issuance of Certified True Copies of the Acts to ensure clarity and accuracy.
