OPEC secretary-general, Muhammad Barkindo, dies hours after meeting President Buhari
Muhammad Sanusi Barkindo, the Secretary-Seneral of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), is dead.
He died at about 11p.m on Tuesday. He was aged 63.
His death was announced by Mele Kyari, group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.
His death occurred few hours after he was celebrated by President Muhammadu Buhari for his good service.
Kyari tweeted: “We lost our esteemed Dr Muhammad Sanusi Barkindo. He died at about 11pm yesterday 5th July 2022.
“Certainly a great loss to his immediate family, the NNPC, our country Nigeria, the OPEC and the global energy community. Burial arrangements will be announced shortly.”
Barkindo’s tenure as OPEC Secretary General would have end July 31.
Praising Barkindo yesterday, Buhari said: “You have indeed been a worthy ambassador of our country.
“We are proud of your achievements before and during your appointment at OPEC and the proud legacies you will leave behind.
“Your time in charge of the affairs of OPEC has been a very challenging one for the global oil industry.”
Barkindo’s meeting with President Buhari
President Buhari, received Barkindo, and an accompanying delegation from the OPEC Secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday
The meeting took place in part to honour Barkindo’s two-term tenure as secretary general of OPEC.
In attendance were Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva; Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Mele Kyari.
During the meeting, President Buhari said: “Welcome back home!” adding, “We are proud of your distinguished achievements at OPEC. You were able to successfully navigate the Organization through turbulent challenges.”
Minister Sylva echoed the President’s remarks, thanking Barkindo for his six years of leadership.
The Minister said: “Mr Barkindo has steered the heavily loaded Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) ship through … turbulent waters, against all formidable obstacles,” adding, “He spearheaded the historic ‘Algeria Accord’ in September 2016, which paved the way for the equally historic DoC between 23 oil-producing countries – a feat that had never been achieved in the oil industry.”
“Mr Barkindo is a strong believer in multilateralism and cooperation,” Minister Sylva highlighted.
In return, Barkindo said: “I and my colleagues from the OPEC Secretariat are deeply honoured by your audience, Mr President, as well as of the honourable Minister Sylva and other senior officials of the Nigerian oil and gas industry.”
He also briefed the President on oil market developments and the vital role played by the Declaration of Cooperation in stabilizing the global oil market over the past six years.
Barkindo’s term as Secretary General ends on 31 July 2022.
Also on Tuesday, he delivered a keynote address at the Nigerian Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition in Abuja, which runs from 4-7 July 2022.
Who is Muhammad Sanusi Barkindo?
Read his CV here: CV of Muhammad Sanusi Barkindo
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