Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, was yesterday named as the new President of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation (APPO).
Kachikwu’s announcement was made at the opening ceremony of the Extraordinary Session of the Council of Ministers of APPO held in Abuja.
Kachikwu who replaced Chadian Oil Minister, Michel Boukar, in his inaugural address pledged to further reposition the organisation to be a key player in the global energy sector.
APPO, which is an association of African oil and gas producers, was founded in 1986 in Lagos, with its headquarters in Brazzaville in Congo. It currently comprises 14 member countries: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Brazzaville, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, South Africa, Libya and Nigeria.
Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who declared open the extraordinary session, applauded the emergence of Dr. Kachikwu as APPO president.
Prof. Osinbanjo reminded the new president that despite the giant stride recorded so far by APPO leadership, there is still more to be done.
He assured the organization of the Federal Government’s support to realise its vision of being one of the world’s major institutions on Africa’s hydrocarbon matters.
“By increased collaboration among member countries, the APPO will go a long way towards helping overcome financial challenges. Increased synergy will make us realise the investment needed to facilitate and deliver the major infrastructure required by the industry such as trans-border gas and oil pipelines, refineries, gas plants and so on,” he said.
