Kachikwu Steps Down as NNPC GMD, Vows to Sustain Reforms, Baru Replaces Him

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, Friday, formally stepped down as the Group Managing Director, GMD, of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, with the handing over to the new helmsman, Mr. Maikanti Baru. This was even as the newly appointed GMD, Baru, rolled out a 12-point programme for the NNPC, which included addressing and defraying the cash calls arrears owed International Oil Companies, IOC, by the NNPC and also ensuring that the Federal Government is relieved of the burden of cash calls obligations.


Speaking during the handover in Abuja, Kachikwu promised to partner and support the new GMD, in undertaking a wholistic reform of the NNPC and the Nigerian petroleum industry and also in bridging the infrastructure deficit in the industry. Kachikwu said over the last 11 months when he held sway at the NNPC, a number of milestones were attained, while he expressed optimism that the new GMD would surpass his achievements and take the corporation to new heights.


Some of the achievements, according to Kachikwu, included the restructuring of the NNPC, the deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry, revamping of the countries refineries and bringing the NNPC to profitability among others.

Baru Replaces Kachikwu as NNPC GMD



President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Maikanti Kacalla Baru as the new managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Femi Adesina, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, confirmed this in a statement.

Baru replaces Ibe Kachikwu, who was appointed in August, and retained the position two months later when he was appointed minister of state for petroleum.

The statement said the board of the corporation, which was dissolved last year, had been reconstituted.

Below is the composition of the new board: Ibe Kachikwu, chairman; Maikanti Kacalla Baru, group managing director; permanent secretary of the ministry of finance.

Abba Kyari, Thomas John, Pius Akinyelure, Tajuddeen Umar, Mohammed Lawal, and Yusuf Lawal are members.

Buhari urged the new board to ensure the successful delivery of the mandate of the NNPC “and serve the nation by upholding the public trust placed on them in managing this critical national asset”.

Back in October, TheCable reported that Karu, who was then the group executive director (GED) for exploration, was being tipped for the job.

Karu hails from Bauchi state.