A socio-political group, the South-South Reawakening Group (SSRG) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing Mele Kyari as the new Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The group made the commendation in a statement signed by its Convener, Joseph Ambakederimo and made available to newsmen on Thursday, June 20, 2019 in Warri.

Mele Kyari Kyari succeeds Maikanti Baru, who is due for retirement on July 7 at the age of 60.

“As President Buhari begins his second tenure in office, we make bold to say that the future looks good. It is glaring that the President has opened the floodgate of appointments with professionals and incorruptible persons to occupy key positions in institutions critical to the economy of the nation.”

“This is manifest in the appointment of Kyari as GMD of the NNPC. We applaud the president for the foresight,” the group said.

The group, however, urged the new GMD to justify the confidence reposed in him by transforming the oil sector.

“We urge the new GMD to live up to the expectation of Nigerians by showcasing his skills that he brought to bear in the transformation of the crude oil marketing department.

“Your output in the crude oil marketing department was extraordinary through the use of modern technology and transparency. We believe the same strategy will be employed to reposition the NNPC and its subsidiaries to place it on the path of profit making like its counterparts in other countries,” it said.

SSRG further reminded Kyari to remember that his appointment was coming at a critical time in the volatile global oil industry and called for some level of openness in the operations of the corporation.

(NAN)