Mele Kyari Returns as NNPC’s GCEO, Akinyelure Becomes New Board Chairman

•Renews Aduda’s tenure as Permanent Secretary

Deji Elumoye and Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu yesterday retained Mele Kyari as the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and appointed Chief Pius Akinyelure, a former member of the board as its new Chairman.

A statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity,  Ajuri Ngelale, listed other members as Umar Ajiya, as having been retained as Chief Financial Officer and Mr. Ledum Mitee as a Non-executive Director.

Also appointed were: Mr. Musa Tumsa; Ghali Muhammad; Prof. Mustapha Aliyu; Mr. David Ogbodo and Ms. Eunice Thomas, all as non-executive directors.

The statement noted that the appointments which take effect from December 1, 2023, were in compliance with Section 59 (2) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.

Besides, Tinubu  approved the appointment of two Permanent Secretaries, namely: Okokon Udo as the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, and also retained Gabriel Aduda as the  Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

“ Tinubu anticipates the fullest measure of compliance with the performance-driven and results-oriented mandate of his Renewed Hope administration in the implementation of energy policy that will monetise all available oil and gas resources of today.

“This will also pave the way for the total exploitation of new and cleaner energy sources of tomorrow by this distinguished team,” the statement stressed.

Akinyelure, an administrator, and an oil industry egghead, was appointed about five months after the president dissolved the board of federal government’s agencies and parastatals.

The new board replaces the one chaired by Mrs. Margary Okadigbo who was appointed on January 5, 2022 by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Akinyelure is a certified accountant and holds a Master’s of Science Degree in management, specialising in organisational behaviour and has over 30 years working experience in the oil industry at top management level. He retired from Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc on June 1, 1997, as an Executive Director, Finance and External Relations of the company.

He had held top positions at Wema Bank Plc, Credite Bank Ltd, Odu’a Investment Limited, Oluwa Glass Plc, Okitipupa Oil Palm Plc, Odu’a Telecommunications Limited, Cocoa Industries Nigeria Ltd, Hallmark Bank and West African Portland Cement Plc.