Aminu Imam
The Group Managing Director, (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari, has approved the appointment of a seasoned journalist and one-time President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Garba-Deen Muhammad as the Corporation’s new spokesman.
Recall that Garba-Deen has been in the same position before the Late GMD of the Corporation, Maikanti Baru, removed him in a very controversial circumstance. He held the position of NNPC spokesperson when Ibe Kachikwu was the Group Managing Director of the Corporation.
Prior to his return to the highly sensitive position as the image-maker of the Corporation, Garba-Deen was the Group General Manager, (GGM) in the office of the Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva and served as his Special Adviser on media.
Garba-Deen, who was also the former Editor of the Daily Trust newspaper, is coming with many years of experience as a communications expert and top public relations manager. He succeeds the Corporation’s erstwhile spokesman, Kennie Obateru, who is due to retire in September, 2021.
The reshufflement of several officers was announced in a statement by the outgoing spokesman, Kennie Obateru.
The NNPC’s GMD, Mele Kyari, in the statement, said the new appointments would enable the Corporation to live up to the expectations of Nigerians and achieve its vision of becoming a world-class energy company of choice.
