The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari has confirmed the death of OPEC Secretary-General, Mohammed Barkindo in a tweet posted early today.
Kyari said the former NNPC GMD, who is also an oil industry veteran died at about 11pm on Tuesday, describing his demise as a great loss to his family, the NNPC Nigeria, OPEC and the global energy community.
The oil industry veteran who steered the group through the creation of the OPEC+ alliance, was in the final weeks of the end of his six-year tenure as the top diplomat of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Barkindo died suddenly in Abuja, with no immediate cause of death given, hours after meeting and being honoured by Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday at the state House, Abuja.
In a statement by President Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, posterity would remember Barkindo kindly for making the nation proud during his six years of meritorious service at the helm of affairs as the 4th OPEC Secretary-General.
Prior to his death, the deceased had stated that after stepping down from OPEC, he plans to pursue a fellowship at the Atlantic Council Think Tank.
