The Secretary-General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, has died.
Mr. Barkindo died on Tuesday evening, according to the OPEC Secratariat and the Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mele Kyari.
OPEC Secretary General, HE Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, passed away yesterday in his home country Nigeria. He was the much-loved leader of the OPEC Secretariat and his passing is a profound loss to the entire OPEC Family, the oil industry and the international community. pic.twitter.com/xYDQvhG0n2
— OPEC (@OPECSecretariat) July 6, 2022
We lost our esteemed Dr Muhammad Sanusi Barkindo. He died at about 11pm yesterday 5th July 2022. Certainly a great loss to his immediate family, the NNPC, our country Nigeria, the OPEC and the global energy community. Burial arrangements will be announced shortly.
— Mele Kyari (@MKKyari) July 6, 2022
On Tuesday, Barkindo was honoured by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja for his tremendous achievements at OPEC.
Read Also: President Buhari Applauds Outgoing OPEC Scribe, Barkindo
His tenure as OPEC Secretary-General was scheduled to expire this July.
President @MBuhari received in audience the Outgoing Secretary General of @OPECSecretariat, Mr Barkindo at the State House, Abuja.#AsoVillaToday pic.twitter.com/UpAu7TbvkJ
— Government of Nigeria (@NigeriaGov) July 5, 2022
The President described him as a worthy ambassador of the country.
‘‘You have indeed been a worthy ambassador of our country. We are proud of your achievements before and during your appointment at OPEC and the proud legacies you will leave behind.
‘‘Your time in charge of the affairs of OPEC has been a very challenging one for the global oil industry. Oil producers were finding it difficult to come together to address challenges that were crippling the oil market.
‘‘Not long after, the world was faced with the COVID-19 pandemic that sent crude prices spiralling down at an alarming rate. You showed incredible leadership to rally industry players and pushed through the turbulent times.
‘‘There is no doubt about your efforts in putting together the Declaration of Cooperation which is the largest in the history of OPEC and the global oil industry and also the longest in duration in the history of the organization. This was a herculean task,’’ the President said.
