Ogoni survival activist and lawyer, Ledum Mitee and eight others have been appointed into the board and management team of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Activist Mitee is one of the Ogoni sons who fought against the environmental pollution and the impunity of some international oil corporations in oil – rich Ogoniland in Rivers State of Nigeria and he escaped execution by sheer providence over two decades ago when activist and playwright, Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight Ogoni leaders were hanged by the military government for being at the forefront of the Ogoni freedom struggle and after they were convicted over allegations of murder.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President(Media & Publicity) announced the appointment of Mitee and others by the President on Monday in a release.
The release states, “In compliance with Section 59 (2) of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of a new Board and Management team for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) with effect from December 1, 2023:
(1) Chief Pius Akinyelure — Non-Executive Board Chairman
(2) Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari — Group Chief Executive Officer
(3) Alhaji Umar Isa Ajiya — Chief Financial Officer
(4) Mr. Ledum Mitee — Non-Executive Director
(5) Mr. Musa Tumsa — Non-Executive Director
(6) Mr. Ghali Muhammad — Non-Executive Director
(7) Prof. Mustapha Aliyu — Non-Executive Director
(8) Mr. David Ogbodo — Non-Executive Director
(9) Ms. Eunice Thomas — Non-Executive Director
Furthermore, President Tinubu approved the appointment of two Permanent Secretaries:
(10) Mr. Okokon Ekanem Udo — Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance
(11) Amb. Gabriel Aduda — Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources
President Tinubu anticipates the fullest measure of compliance with the performance-driven and results-oriented mandate of his Renewed Hope administration in the implementation of energy policy that will monetize all available oil and gas resources of today while paving the way for the total exploitation of new and cleaner energy sources of tomorrow by this distinguished team.”