Breaking: Minister of state for petroleum Ibe Kachikwu reportedly sacked, NNPC reacts

Unconfirmed reports have it that Minister for Petroleum Dr Ibe Kachikwu has been replaced as the GMD of NNPC. According to Business
Day, his position has been taken over by Maikanti Baru.

Kachikwu will however retain his position as Minister of State for petroleum.

His replacement may not be unconnected to the lingering fuel scarcity which has continued to torment the nation.

All attempts by Reporters to confirm the report proved abortive as no government official was willing to speak on the matter as at the time of filling this report.

BUSINESS DAY TWITTED BELOW
BREAKING: @IbeKachikwu
replaced as GMD @NNPCgroup by Maikanti Baru, will retain position as Minister of State for Petroleum

— BusinessDay Online (@BusinessDayNg) April 21, 2016
However, Premium Times reports that the NNPC has described as “completely false” the widely circulated report that Kachikwu, has been relieved of his job by President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to the report, the Minister of State for Petroleum is still carrying out his duties as assigned to him by the president. Speaking to the media outfit in a telephone interview, Garba-deen Mohammed, the group general manager, public affairs division of the NNPC, said the news is untrue.

Mohammed said: “The
story is completely false. It should be ignored by all Nigerians.

“The minister is currently in his office and has continued to function in the roles assigned to him by the president.”

More details to follow…