President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the passing of the outgoing Secretary-General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, Mohammed Barkindo, who died on Wednesday at age 63.
This was as he condoled with the family of the deceased, his colleagues at OPEC, as well as the government and people of Adamawa State.
Buhari’s condolence message is contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, titled ‘We have lost a huge national asset, President Buhari pays tribute to Mohammed Barkindo.’
Adesina wrote, “The President pays tribute to the remarkable gentleman and enormous national asset, who from his youthful days worked meritoriously in the service of the nation in various national and international capacities, and never stopped being a beacon of light to the country he loved until his last breath.
“The President affirms that Barkindo’s undeniable brilliance and legacies as a dedicated public servant will remain a reference point in the oil and gas industry, international development and the environment sector.”
Buhari also recalled that Barkindo’s profound decency and mien greatly endeared him to Nigerians and other nationals who came in direct contact with him as a young Principal Administrative Officer with the Nigeria Mining Corporation; Special Assistant to the Minister of Mines, Power and Steel as well as Minister of Petroleum Resources; and later in his 24 years of service in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation; Nigerian Delegate to OPEC Ministerial Conferences; Nigeria’s Governor for OPEC; and leader of Nigeria’s technical delegations to the climate change negotiations since inception in 1991 that produced the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC.
He saluted the former OPEC Chief for his leadership especially during turbulent times in 2016 and 2020.
Buhari noted that the Declaration of Cooperation birthed under his watch helped strengthen and consolidate OPEC/non-OPEC cooperation and dialogue.
He conveyed his deepest condolences to Barkindo family, colleagues at OPEC, as well as the government and people of Adamawa State; praying God almighty to grant repose to the soul of the departed and comfort to all who mourn.
