The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has again, reshuffled its workers, promoting some and redeploying others across departments.
A statement from the organisation stated that the move was to “strengthen and reposition the NNPC towards attaining global excellence and profitability.”
Amidst this shakeup was the appointment of Garba Deen Muhammad as the group general manager of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) public affair division did not come as a surprise to many in the industry.
Mr. Garba Deen Muhammad, took over from Dr. Kennie Obateru as the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Corporation. This, NNPC had said, was in preparation for the new status of the corporation as a limited liability company, post-Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).
No doubt, the outgoing NNPC’s spokesperson, Dr Kennie Obateru, had an excellent relationship with the Media during his tenure, but it is certain that Media practitioners will have a cordial working relationship with Garba Deen as he is eminently qualified for this new position.
Prior to his new appointment, Muhammad was special adviser on media to Timipre Sylva, minister of state for petroleum resources. Garba Deen Mohammed is also a former President and Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).
Muhammad had held the position of NNPC spokesperson when Ibe Kachikwu was the group managing director of the corporation.
No doubt, the new appointment would enable the NNPC to live up to the expectations of Nigerians and achieve its vision of becoming a world-class energy company of choice.
This kind of shakeup is not uncommon to NNPC; in March 2020, NNPC reportedly retired about 40 group general managers and general managers.
In July last year, the corporation conducted a major shakeup, which led to the exit of two senior officials and redeployment of others.
There was similar development in September 2019, where there was redeployment of managers at the upstream subsidiary of the oil firm, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited (NPDC).
This development has gladdened the hearts of Editors and Journalists alike, as encomiums have been pouring in for the new Public Affairs boss, who is one of them.
The NGE and other professional bodies have congratulated him on his appointment as the Group General Manager (Public Affairs) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
In a press statement signed on Thursday by its President, Mustapha Isah and the General Secretary, Iyobosa Uwugiaren, the umbrella of all the editors in Nigeria, said that Garba Deen is eminently qualified for the position, considering his experience both in the media and the oil/gas sector.
”We commend the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva and the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mele Kyari, for making the right choice.
”Garba Deen’s appointment comes at a time when the NNPC is undergoing a transition following the signing into law of the Petroleum Industry Bill by President Muhammadu Buhari”, the NGE stated.
Olamide Adeniji is a member of member of the team of TheScript Newspaper
