Top Stories

Buhari mourns Barkindo, describes him ‘national asset’

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed grief over the death of the Secretary-General of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo.

The Star had reported that Barkindo died on Tuesday night at the age of 63.

Buhari, in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, described the late OPEC Secretary-General as a “remarkable gentleman and enormous national asset, who from his youthful days worked meritoriously in the service of the nation in various national and international capacities, and never stopped being a beacon of light to the country he loved until his last breath.

“The President affirms that Barkindo’s undeniable brilliance and legacies as a dedicated public servant will remain a reference point in the oil and gas industry, international development and the environment sector.

READ ALSO: Few things to know about late OPEC Secretary-General Barkindo

“The President recalls that his profound decency and mien greatly endeared him to Nigerians and other nationals who came in direct contact with him as a young Principal Administrative Officer with the Nigeria Mining Corporation; Special Assistant to the Minister of Mines, Power and Steel as well as Minister of Petroleum Resources; and later in his 24 years of service in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation; Nigerian Delegate to OPEC Ministerial Conferences; Nigeria’s Governor for OPEC; and leader of Nigeria’s technical delegations to the climate change negotiations since inception in 1991 that produced the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC.”

President Buhari further extolled Barkindo’s leadership at OPEC, including during very turbulent times in 2016 and 2020, noting that the Declaration of Cooperation birthed under his watch helped strengthen and consolidate OPEC/non-OPEC cooperation and dialogue.

He, however, consoles with Barkindo’s family, colleagues at OPEC, as well as the government and people of Adamawa State.

Buhari prayed God to “grant repose to the soul of the departed and comfort to all who mourn”.

The Star

Segun Ojo

Recent Posts

TCN: Why national grid collapsed

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has explained the reason behind the collapse of the…

4 hours ago

Police officer dies in Lagos-Ibadan expressway accident

A police officer has been confirmed dead in an accident involving a truck and two…

4 hours ago

FG unveils free cesarean sections for women to combat maternal mortality

The Federal Government has unveiled a nationwide free cesarean section initiative aimed at reducing Nigeria’s…

8 hours ago

National grid collapses for second time in 3 days

The national grid has again collapsed, leading to a nationwide blackout. This is the second…

10 hours ago

‘Doing harm to kids’: Australia to ban children under 16 from social media

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has vowed to ban children under 16 from social media,…

13 hours ago

Lagos govt shuts churches, hotels over noise pollution

The Lagos State Government has shut churches, including the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG)…

13 hours ago

This website uses cookies.