Kyari Takes Over NNPC as New GMD as Baru Bows Out

Newly inaugurated Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Mele Kyari has promised that he will eradicate corruption in the corporation during his tenure.

Kyari also promised that NNPC will also deliver all of the four refineries before the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure.

He said this on Monday at the formal handing over ceremony at the amphitheatre of the NNPC Towers in Garki, Abuja.

Kyari takes over from Maikanti Baru as the 19th GMD of the corporation following Baru’s statutory retirement.

While delivering his address, Kyari said: “There will be no corruption without discretion. We will work with all stakeholders within the NNPC group to ensure there is no discretion in the system.

“I recognise the weight of being a GMD of NNPC group. If anything I know there’s eternal accountability when I will stand before my Creator to give a full account of all my actions.

“We will build this company to enable it to compete with its global peers. We are not saying we will not make mistakes along the way, but we will not make deliberate mistakes.

“To my family members, from today, if you accept any gift from anyone, then it is not from me. So those who want to give my family members gifts, let them know that my family members can never influence me.

“To the GMD Emeritus Dr Mikanti Baru, I can’t thank you enough. I will like you to just sit down and tell yourself that you have done the right thing.

“In the last three years, we have made giant strides under Dr Baru. I am an insider in many of the laudable achievements recorded under him. We are going to deliver on the expectations of Nigerians from this great Corporation.

“It is a promise that we shall remain more open, more credible, more focused and more accountable to all Nigerians.


“We will deliver all our four refineries within the life of President Buhari’s administration. We shall seek strategic partnerships to ensure Nigeria becomes a net exporter of petroleum products.

“I’ll like to thank President Buhari for giving me the opportunity to serve. It is a challenge and I promise to do this job with integrity. I will never do anything against the interest of this Corporation.”

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.

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