NNPC boss sacked, probe ordered by President
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- Category: Politics
- Published on Tuesday, 18 May 2010 09:29
- Written by Next
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President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday announced a change in the top hierarchy of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) management, with the appointment of Austin Oniwon as the new Group Managing Director (GMD).
Mr. Oniwon replaces Shehu Ladan, who was appointed barely one and a half months ago to succeed Mohammed Barkindo.
Until his appointment, Mr. Oniwon was the Group Executive Director (Refineries & Petrochemicals) of the corporation.
A statement signed by Ima Niboro, the President’s Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, did not give any reason for Mr. Ladan’s removal. According to Mr. Niboro, the President has also directed Bayo Aganga, the Finance Minister, to engage the services of a world-class auditing firm to carry out a comprehensive audit of NNPC accounts.
Born on April 1, 1951, Oniwon is an indigene of Okene, in Kogi State, North Central Nigeria.
The new GMD commenced his working career with the NNPC in 1977, and rose to the position of Head, Planning of the Warri Refining and Petrochemicals Company in 1987. Between 1988 and 1991, he was the Technical Assistant to the GED (Downstream) and later Head, Engineering and Technical Services Department (ETSD) of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemicals Company, from 1991 to 1992. That same year, Mr. Oniwon was made Head, New Business Development, Corporate Planning and Development Division, a post he held until his appointment as Head, ETSD, at the Port Harcourt Refinery (1993-1999).
A fellow of the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers, between 1999 and 2000, Mr. Oniwon was General Manager, Information System, Engineering and Technology Directorate, before moving on to function as Senior Technical Assistant to the GMD and General Manager, Information Systems Department at the GMD’s office.
He was also Managing Director of the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of the NNPC, before moving on to the Eleme Petrochemicals Company Limited as Managing Director in 2003, where he served till 2009 when he was appointed Group Executive Director.
Holder of the Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Chemistry from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, he also holds a Diploma in Business Management from Harvard University, USA, and Diploma Petroleum Management from Oxford University, United Kingdom.
In a related development, the President announced the appointment of Mike Oghiadomhe, as his new Chief of Staff, while Hassan Tukur was named Principal Secretary to the President. Mr. Tukur replaces David Edevbie.
Until his appointment, Oniwon was the Group Executive Director (GED), Refining and Petro-chemicals, and also the most senior GED.
