The Nigerian-born Secretary-General of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Mohammed Barkindo, has died a few hours after he was hosted to a grand reception by President Muhammadu Buhari at the country’s seat of power, Aso Rock Presidential Villa in the capital, Abuja.
The 63-year-old Barkindo who was due to leave his position on July 31, after six years in the saddle, was reported to have died late Tuesday in a private hospital in Abuja.
While announcing the death of Barkindo, Mele Kyari, the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Twitter, described his departure as a great loss to his immediate family, NNPC Nigeria, OPEC and global energy community.
The Vienna-based OPEC also confirmed Barkindo’s death, saying he was a “much-loved leader who would be greatly missed” by the oil cartel.
Barkindo was set to join the Atlantic Council as a distinguished fellow after after finishing his term at OPEC and was a regular speaker at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum, a premier international gathering of government, industry, and thought leaders in the energy sector which aims to set an agenda for the industry each year.