Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari has officially become the 19th Group Managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) taking over from Dr. Maikanti Kacalla Baru.

Kyari, takes over from his predecessor, Maikanti Baru, who retired from the service of the corporation on July 7, after attaining the statutory 60 years retirement age.

Until his appointment, Mr Kyari was Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division of the NNPC. He was also the Nigerian National Representative at the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) since 2018.

Most oil industry players see Mr Kyari as reform-minded technocrat who is committed to the emergence of an open, transparent and accountable industry based on international best practice, principles and standards.

The Executive Secretary of Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Waziri Adio, describes Mr Kyari as “a well-known transparency champion and one who enthusiastically shares the principles which underline the work of NEITI and the global EITI on good governance of the oil and gas industry.”

The transition took place at the amphitheater of the NNPC Towers in Garki, Abuja.

In attendance are some former GMDs including Dr. M.T. John, Chief Odoliyi Lolomari, Chief Festus Marinho (1st NNPC group GMD), Engr. Abubakar Yar’adua, Chief Chamberlain Oyibo, Engr. Funsho Kupolokun and Dr. Joseph Dawha.

Also present at the NNPC Towers is Dr. Isa Pantami, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Nigeria, Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu and Special Assistant to President on New Media, Bashir Ahmaad.

Kyari resumes Monday, July 8, 2019