THE CABLE: President Buhari Was Misled Into Appointing Kachikwu as NNPC GMD

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari will appoint another person as the group managing director for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) if Ibe Kachikwu’s ministerial nomination is approved by the senate, TheCable says. 

Kachikwu, who was appointed GMD only in August, was recently nominated for a ministerial role by Buhari. 

 

According to reports, Kachikwu, after assuming office as NNPC GMD, gave priority to the settlement of debts owed to his former employers, ExxonMobil, by NNPC, and was also said to have fallen out of line with his proposal to sell the refineries despite the stand of the president that they should be put in good condition first before any further discussions. 

Management changes made by Kachikwu at the NNPC and its strategic business units are also said to be “lopsided”, with eight positions going to a particular part of the country, although the president approved before they were made public. 

“You can say Buhari was misled into appointing Kachikwu as NNPC GMD,” a presidency official said, adding that a ministerial position was a better option for him “in view of the unfolding circumstances”. 

"Buhari is hoping to make Kachikwu minister of state for petroleum resources while heading the ministry by himself," the official said.

One of the current group executive directors (GEDs) is expected to take over from Kachikwu, with Maikanti Baru from Bauchi state as the favourite. 

Baru also holds a PhD like Kachikwu, and is currently the GED for exploration and production and was initially tipped to succeed Joseph Dawha, who was removed as GMD in August.