The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has announced the sudden death of the outgoing Secretary-General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Mohammad Barkindo.
Mr. Barkindo was appointed OPEC Secretary-General in 2016 and was the fourth Nigerian to hold that position. He was born on 20 April 1959 and died at the age of 63 years.
The Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mele Kyari, posted on his verified Twitter handle on Wednesday morning.
“We lost our esteemed Dr. Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo. He died at about 11 pm 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.”
The nature of his sudden death remained unclear as of the time of filing this report.
On Tuesday, Mr. Barkindo held a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari during which he announced that his six-year tenure as OPEC secretary-general was coming to an end.
At that event, Mr. Buhari thanked him for being a capable ambassador of the country.
The President even directed the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to mobilize the oil and gas industry to organize a befitting welcome reception in his honor when he finally returns home.
Mr. Barkindo in his remarks attributed his success to the tremendous guidance, charisma, and international gravitas of President Buhari; support from the OPEC secretariat in Vienna; and cooperation by members of the organization.
Apart from visiting Aso Rock, Mr. Barkindo also on Tuesday delivered a speech at the ongoing Nigerian Oil and Gas Conference in Abuja.
Mr. Barkindo was the managing director of NNPC before he was appointed OPEC Secretary-General in 2016. He was the fourth Nigerian to hold that position and the 28th person in the role overall.
He was GMD of the NNPC between 2009 and 2010.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in his tribute described Mr. Barkindo as a man who “left indelible marks in his service to our nation and OPEC. He was indeed a worthy ambassador of Nigeria. He died in active service, having delivered a speech at the ongoing Nigerian Oil and Gas Conference in Abuja and held a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari hours before passing.
“He was my very good friend, and he will be sorely missed. My condolences to his family and friends, management, and staff of NNPC and OPEC. I pray that Allah forgives his sins and grants him Aljannah Firdaus.”
