Nigeria’s Mohammed Barkindo becomes OPEC secretary general as cartel looks forward to balanced oil market

A one-time group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mohammed Barkindo, was on Thursday appointed the secretary-general of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Mr. Barkindo’s appointment was announced in Vienna, Austria after the 169th meeting of the group.
He is succeeding the Libyan Minister of Oil, Abdalla El-Badri, whose tenure comes to an end in July.
Mr, El-Badri was elected acting secretary-general of the group in December 2015.
But ahead of the expiration of Mr. El-Badri’s tenure, speculations became rife that Mr. Barkindo would be appointed as his successor.
Until the meeting on Thursday, OPEC members failed to reach a consensus on who should be handed the office.
In 2006, Mr. Barkindo, who was at the helm of affairs at the NNPC between 2009 and 2010, was nominated by the federal government to vie for the position.
He had previously occupied the position acting capacity while representing Nigeria in the organisation.