President Bola Tinubu has sacked the Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Mele Kyari.

Tinubu also dissolved its board, removing the Chairman, Chief Pius Akinyelure.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on information and strategy, announced this in a statement on Wednesday.

Onanuga said Tinubu invoked his powers under section 59(2) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 to carry out the sweeping reconstitution, citing the need for “enhanced operational efficiency, restored investor confidence, and a more commercially viable NNPC”.

He announced that Tinubu has now approved a new 11-man board, which has Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the Group CEO and Ahmadu Musa Kida as non-executive chairman.

According to the statement, “Adedapo Segun, who replaced Umaru Isa Ajiya as the chief financial officer last November, has been appointed to the new board by President Tinubu.

“Six board members, non-executive directors, represent the country’s geopolitical zones. They are Bello Rabiu, North West, Yusuf Usman, North East, and Babs Omotowa, a former managing director of the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas( NLNG), who represents North Central.

“President Tinubu appointed Austin Avuru as a non-executive director from the South-South, David Ige as a Non-executive director from the South West, and Henry Obih as a non-executive director from the South East.

“Mrs Lydia Shehu Jafiya, permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, will represent the ministry on the new board, while Aminu Said Ahmed will represent the Ministry of Petroleum Resources”.

He added said that all the appointments are effective today, April 2.

As part of its corporate social responsibility, a non-governmental organization, known as Brothers Across Nigeria International at the weekend commissioned a new female cell and renovated police station in Imo State.

The president of the Imo State chapter of Brothers Across Nigeria International, Chukwuemeka Andrain Nwokeji said the NGO built a brand new female cell and renovated the New Owerri Division Police Station.

He said, “We changed everything around the cell, the louvres, the ceilings and made it a first-class female cell.

“In the coming days, we will continue to support the police on the work they are doing in the society. This year, we decided to make the female cell of the station and we commend the commissioner of Police for the efforts he is making in ensuring security of lives and property and order in the state.

“Apart from what we have done for the police, we also support prison inmates, hospitals and schools to give them a lifeline.”

He extolled the national president of the NGO, Dr Anthony Mark for the approval of the project, explaining that the decision to construct a female cell facility and renovate parts of the office complex was a way of supporting the police and giving back to society.

He also assured that the organization would ensure the continued maintenance of the facility.

Nwokeji said, “We applauded the police for their dedication to protecting lives and property and combating crime. We pledged the organization’s ongoing support to the force in their efforts to maintain law and order.”

The Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Aboki Danjuma lauded the association for supporting the police in providing conducive cell for the female inmates.

Danjuma said, “We are happy with what you have done and we will ensure that we make use of it very well.

“This is the third project I am commissioning since I came to Imo. You have invested in the right place. Your resources are not wasted.”

The Divisional Police Officer, New Owerri Division Police Station, CSP Abiden Salawu commended the group for the project and noted that the officers are happy and will continue to ensure the project is protected and put into good use.

Salawu said, “Strong partnership between police and the community is a viable strategy to fighting crime. Report any suspicious movement to the police because we cannot do it alone. We need collaborative efforts in combating crime and the motivation received today will go a long way to enhance the work of the police.”

In a recent interview on AriseNews, Peter Obi expressed concerns over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic management, citing the significant increase in the value of the dollar during his tenure. Obi noted that the dollar value has risen from 300 to 400 naira to 1,500 naira, which he implied is a negative development.

Obi also stated that President Tinubu is delivering on his promise to continue from where former President Buhari left off.

Obi in his statement is suggesting his view of Tinubu’s economic policies as a continuation of the previous administration’s policies, which he seems to criticize.

Obi’s criticism of the Federal Government’s economic management is not new.

He has previously accused the government of neglecting economic management issues

Ekwutosblog recalls when he called out the Federal Government, accusing it of not giving adequate attention to economic management issues. Obi expressed his concerns in a statement via his official social media handle.

He specifically criticized the recent National Assembly approval of President Bola Tinubu’s request for the securitization of the outstanding N7.3 trillion ways and means debt balance.

Obi described securitization as ‘illegal’ and pointed out that the former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration also received Senate approval for N22.7 trillion in ways and means borrowing from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) just 26 days before the end of the eight-year tenure.

He called for a focus on rational economic management beyond political considerations and partisan grandstanding, expressing concerns about the government’s attention to fundamental economic issues.