NNPC Reacts after Nigerians criticized for appointing mostly northerners into top management positions

Nigerians criticized the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for appointing mostly northerners to senior management positions after some of its staff were disengaged in March.

Criticism from Nigerians, Niger Delta leaders and groups has forced the NNPC to make a statement. Kennie Obateru, speaking on behalf of the NNPC on Sunday, said that her appointments often complied with the principle of openness and accountability.

But the corporation insists that the federal nature was also a factor in the progression of the newly appointed members. It said that many of the top management officers of the company have moved to new positions, while others have been elevated on the basis of their verifiable record of success.

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Obateru said that "Chief Executive Officers, Group General Managers and Managing Directors of subsidiaries were affected by what some industry observers have described as the most comprehensive placement exercise in the recent history of the National Oil Company."

He noted that the changes have seen the redeployment of the former COO, Upstream, Roland Ewubare, to the Directorate of Projects and Business Growth as COO.  NNPC said that Ewubare 's position as COO Upstream had been taken over by Adeyemi Adetunji, formerly the COO in charge of Downstream.

It added that Lawrencia Ndupu, redeployed to the Downstream, is a Physicist and renowned explorationist that has held many key positions.

Bala Wunti, the erstwhile MD of the Petroleum Products Marketing Company was appointed as the new GGM of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS).

The statement added that Lawal Sade, the new MD of the NNPC Trading Company, was the MD of NIDAS, a shipping arm of the company.

Then spokesman said the exercise retained Adokiye Tombomieye, from the South-South, as GGM, Crude Oil Marketing.

NNPC explained that the new appointments represented a leadership determined to ensure the placement of square pegs in square holes.