The Minister of Petroleum in Nigeria is responsible for oversight of the functions of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources. Marketing of crude oil petroleum products, stimulation of private sector involvement in the industry in terms of finance and participation, licensing of all operations and activities relating to petroleum and gas sector as well as the development of hydrocarbon industries for petroleum resources exploration as well as the supervision of parastatals and subsidiaries that are connected to the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources is among the chief functions of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
This is a list of the former Ministers of Petroleum in Nigeria:
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Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu
He was appointed by President Buhari as Minister of State, Petroleum Resources on November 11, 2015. He was Chairman of the board of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as stipulated by the guidelines of the Nigerian Petroleum Corporation Act of 1999. On May 29, 2021, he was replaced by Timipre Sylva, hence ending his occupation as Minister of State, Petroleum Resources. From December 2015 until January 2016, he occupied the position of President of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
He received his bachelor’s degree in Law from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, while he obtained his master’s and doctorate degrees in Law from Harvard University, Unites States of America.
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Diezani Allison-Maduike
She served in the capacity of Petroleum Minister under the administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for over five years from April 6, 2010, until May 28, 2015. She had had career experience in Shell Petroleum Development Corporation before assuming the position of Petroleum Minister. She joined Shell Petroleum Development Corporation in 1992 and worked in various capacities from architectural consultant to Head of Civil Infrastructure, Head of Corporate Issues and Crisis Management.
On completion of Masters in Business Administration from Cambridge Judge Business School in 2002, she was made the Lead Joint Ventures Presentation Advisor in 2004 and was made an Executive Director of Shell in 2006, making her the first woman to assume that role in Nigeria.
Aside from being Petroleum Minister, she occupied two other political posts such as Minister of Transportation from July 26 to December 2008, and Minister of Mines and Steel. She also served as President of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) from November 2014 until December 2015, making her the first female to achieve that feat.
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Riliwanu Lukman
He served as Petroleum Minister twice, he was first appointed to be the Nigerian Petroleum Minister in 1986 and occupied the position until 1990. Later on, he served in the capacity of Petroleum Minister from December 18, 2008, till March 17, 2010.
He was academically trained as a Mining Engineer from the College of Art, Science and Technology, Zaria( now Ahmadu Bello University), and later on in Imperial College, London, England. He acquired higher academic degrees in Mining and Metallurgy in 1968 from Leoben, Austria, and Mineral Economics from McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1978.
His career experience includes the following; Assistant Mining Engineer with AB Statsgruvor of Sweden (1962-1964), Inspector of Mines, Senior Inspector of Mines, Acting Chief Inspector of Federal Ministry of Mines and Power(1964-1970). He was a General Manager and chief executive officer of Nigerian Mining Corp., Jos, Plateau State in 1979. From 1984 until 1985, he acted in the capacity of Head of Federal Ministry of Mines, Power, and Steel. He also served as OPEC President as well as OPEC Secretary-General. He was Special Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo on Petroleum and Energy Matters from 1999 to 2003
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Olusegun Obasanjo
He was President of Nigeria from 1999 until 2007. He also served as the Federal Minister of Petroleum Resources during his regime as democratically elected President.
He had a decorated military career in the Nigerian Army climbing to the rank of General of the Nigerian Army before retirement. He obtained military training from several institutions which include, Regular Officers Training School, Teshi in Ghana, Mons Officer Cadet School Aldershot, England, and. Royal College of Military Engineering.
As a soldier, he was part of several military assignments such as the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission of the Congo Crisis of 1960 to 1961 as the Fifth Battalion of the Nigerian Army of which he was drafted to was part of the UN’s peacekeeping force charged with the protection of lives and properties. He was also involved in the Nigerian Civil war of 1967 till 1970.
Other notable posts held by Olusegun include; Military of Head of State, Chief Staff, Supreme Headquarters, and Minister of Defense. From 2004 until 2006, he served as Chairperson of the African Union (AU).
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Edmund Maduabebe Daukoru
In 2003, he was appointed to serve as Presidential Advisor on Petroleum and Energy to President Olusegun Obasanjo. He was appointed as Minister of State for Petroleum in 2005. He had a great deal in the Oil Sector before these appointments as he spent over three decades working with Shell Petroleum Development Corporation and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
He was educated to the level of acquiring a doctorate degree from the Imperial College, London, England. He is presently a member of Caverton Offshore Support Group (COSG), a company that operates in the marine and aviation logistics of the oil and gas industry of Nigeria.
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Dan Etete
He was a former Minister of Petroleum under the regime of General Sani Abacha from 1995 until 1998.
Conclusion
After the discovery of crude oil in 1956 at Oloibiri in present-day Bayelsa, there was a need for proper supervision and control of the industry. Initially, matters relating to the oil and gas industry were handled by the Hydrocarbon section of the Ministry of Lagos Affairs. Thereafter the Petroleum Division, a division under the Ministry of Mines and Power performed oversight functions on petroleum-related matters.
It was in 1975 that a Ministry was formed to oversee the activities of petroleum activities in the country. It was named the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy. In 1985, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources was established.