Buhari 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.