President Jonathan Fires NNPC Boss, Austen Oniwon And Names Andrew Yakubu As Replacement

President Goodluck Jonathan has sacked the top management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The affected Group Executive Directors include Michael Arokodare (Finance and Accounts); Philip Chukwu (Refineries & Petrochemicals) and Billy Agha (Engineering & Technology).

Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Reuben Abati, said in a statement on Tuesday that the re-composition of the new management team of the national oil company include Andrew Yakubu, who would take over from Mr. Oniwon as Group Managing Director.

Under the new arrangement, Bernard Otti takes over as the new Group Executive Director (Finance and Accounts); Abiye Membere  as Group Executive Director (Exploration and Production); Peter Nmadu    as Group Executive Director (Corporate Services); Anthony Ogbuigwe as Group Executive Director (Refineries & Petrochemicals) and Attahir Yusuf as Group Executive Director (Commercial & Investments), while David Ige, who was appointed Group Executive Director (Gas & Power) last year retains his position.

According to the presidential spokesman, the sack of the NNPC top hierarchy is to "further strengthen the ongoing reforms and transformation of Nigeria's Petroleum sector, and in furtherance of efforts to achieve greater transparency and accountability in government."