Garba Deen returns as NNPC spokesperson, in major shake up 

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has, again, reshuffled its workers, promoting some and redeploying others across departments.

A statement from the organisation stated that the move was to “strengthen and reposition the NNPC towards attaining global excellence and profitability.”

A former spokesperson, Garba Deen Muhammad, has returned to replace Dr. Kennie Obateru as Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division.

Obateru was reportedly retiring by next month.

In the reshuffle, Billy Okoye is new Group Executive Director, Ventures & Business Development, while Aisha Ahmadu-Katagum becomes Group Executive Director, Corporate Services.

Before the new appointments, Okoye and Ahmadu-Katagum were Group General Managers, Crude Oil Marketing Division (COMD) and Supply Chain Management Division in the corporation.

Erstwhile Chief Operating Officer, Business & Ventures Development, Adeyemi Adetunji, is Group Executive Director, Downstream, as Mohammed Abdulkabir Ahmed, formerly Chief Operating Officer, Corporate Services, takes over as Group Executive Director, Gas & Power.

The Chief Operating Officer positions in the corporation have now been re-designated as Group Executive Directors (GEDs), as the company said the move was to align with the rules of Company & Allied Matters Act (CAMA), preparatory to the new status of the organisation as a limited liability company post-Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

The repositioning also saw the disengagement of Yusuf Usman, who was Chief Operating Officer, Gas & Power.

NNPC’s Group Managing Director (GMD), Mele Kyari, in the statement signed by Obateru, said the new appointments would enable the corporation live up to the expectations of Nigerians and achieve its vision of becoming a world-class energy company of choice.

In March 2020, NNPC reportedly retired about 40 group general managers and general managers.

In July last year, the corporation conducted a major shakeup, which led to the exit of two senior officials and redeployment of others.

There was similar development in September 2019, where there was redeployment of managers at the upstream subsidiary of the oil firm, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited (NPDC).