PMB SET TO BECOME NEXT OPEC PRESIDENT

President Muhammadu Buhari is set to become
the next President of the Organisation of
Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), as
Nigeria still retains its seat, an official of the
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
(NNPC) said on Thursday in Abuja.
The official, who preferred anonymity, said the
exit of the former Minister Petroleum
Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, had
nothing to do with the status of Nigeria as the
President of the organisation.
The official said the position would be filled
after the appointment of a new Minister of
Petroleum by the president. It is widely
believed that President Buhari will double as
the Minister of Petroleum in a bid to rid the
ministry of the massive corruption that has
plagued it.
The official said the former minister was
elected at the 166th General Meeting of the
OPEC, not in her own capacity but to represent
Nigeria.

Alison-Madueke was elected the president of
the international oil body on Nov. 27,  2014 but
started to function in the office in January
2015.
The president of OPEC, according to the
official, is expected to serve for a period of one
year and to preside over the meetings of the
conference in the course of that presidency.
OPEC, the source says, has Alternate President
who exercises the responsibilities of the
President during an absence, or when the
incumbent s unable to carry out the
responsibilities.