Breaking news: Buhari appoints new NNPC boss, NCC helmsmen

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Dr Ibe Kachikwu as Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Notice of the appointment is contained in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina.

The statement noted that Kachikwu, who was the Executive Vice Chairman and General Counsel of Exxon-Mobil (Africa), was to take over from Dr Joseph Dawha. Kachikwu hails from Onicha-Ugbo in Delta State. The statement also quoted the credentials of Kachikwu as being a First Class Graduate of Law from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the Nigerian Law School.

“The new NNPC Chief Executive also has Masters and Doctorate Degrees in Law from Harvard Law School.’’ It stated that the new NNPC boss started his working career with the Nigerian/American Merchant Bank before moving on to Texaco Nigeria Limited, from where he joined Exxon-Mobil.

In a similar development, Buhari had also approved the appointment of Prof. Umaru Danbatta as new Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Adesina, who confirmed the appointment in a statement, said “Danbatta, who holds a Doctorate Degree in Electronic Engineering, takes over from Dr Eugene Juwah, whose tenure expired on July 29, 2015.’’

The new NCC chief executive’s other academic qualifications include a Bachelors Degree in Electronic Engineering and
Telecommunications, as well as a Masters Degree in the same field. He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and had meritorious career in which he rose to become Professor of Electrical Engineering and Electronics at Bayero University, Kano.

Danbatta specialises in Telecommunications Engineering and Information and Communications Technology. Before his new appointment, Danbatta held top management and leadership positions at different times including Head of Department, Dean Of Faculty, Director, Centre for Information Technology, Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (Kano Branch), Deputy Vice Chancellor and Acting Vice Chancellor. Danbatta’s appointment is for five years in the first instance.