Buhari To Replace NNPC Boss, Ibe Kachikwu, With Northerner

This is expected...if the minister is from the South, the GMD of NNPC should come from the North.

President Muhammadu Buhari is set to replace the Group Managing Director, GMD, of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu.

Sources say Buhari has already picked out three persons from the North for the top job, including Deputy Managing Director of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Isa Mohammed Inuwa.


Inuwa was Group General Manager, Corporate Services in NNPC before he joined NLNG.

According to Daily Post, the race to succeed Kachikwu began after Buhari sent his name as a ministerial nominee to the Senate. He is expected to emerge as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, a ministry Buhari has announced he will keenly supervise to avoid abuse.

Kachikwu beat two others – Inuwa and General Manager, Total Nigeria Limited, Mr. Ahmadu-Kida Musa – to emerge as NNPC GMD in August, replacing Dr. Joseph Dawha.

With the elevation of Kachikwu, Buhari has added one more name to contest with Inuwa and Musa.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) has been mandated to review the profiles of the three nominees and make a recommendation to the president.