TheCable

President Muhammadu Buhari has dissolved the board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) with immediate effect.

This was contained in a letter signed on Friday by Danladi Kifasi, head of the civil service of the federation.

Haruna Imrana, director of communications in the office of the head of service, released a statement quoting Buhari  as thanking members of the board for their services to the nation.

Members of the dissolved board are Joseph Dawha, group managing director of NNPC; Bernard Otti, group executive director, finance & accounts; Dan Efebo, group executive director, corporate services; Abdullahi Bukar; Danladi Wadzani; Olusegun Okunnu; Danladi Kifasi (who announced the dissolution); Steven Oronsaye, former head of service;  and Ikechukwu Oguine, coordinator, legal services and secretary to the corporation.

TheCable understands that this is a first in a series of steps by Buhari to clean up the corporation which has been enmeshed in corruption allegations over the years.

The operations of the national oil company will come under probe as Buhari seeks to clean up the oil sector, sources said.

Even before winning the March 28 presidential election, Buhari has consistently expressed dissatisfaction with the corporation.

On Tuesday when he met with the 36 states governors, he said he had it on good authority that “a lot of illegal activities were taking place in many government corporations, particularly the NNPC”.