Diezani Allison-Madueke

Minister of Petroleum Resources

Date of Birth: 06/12/1960
Place of Birth: Port Harcourt, Rivers State

Education: BSc, Architecture, Howard University; MBA, Cambridge University; Architectural Intern, Charles Szoradi Architects.

Career: Project Engineer, American Interior Builders, Washington; Design Coordinator, Furman Construction Management Inc, Rockville, United States; Project Manager, Facilities Planning and Development Department, Howard University; Head, Projects Unit, Shell Petroleum Development Co of Nigeria Ltd, Lagos, 1993-96; various positions (including Head of Corporate Issues Management), Shell, 1996-07; Minister of Transportation, 2007-08; Minister of Mines and Steel Development, 2008-10; appointed Minister of Petroleum Resources, 2010.

Commentary: Madueke underwent investigation in 2008 for withdrawing US$263 million to pay contractors in December 2007. A parliamentary committee described the withdrawals as "hasty and lacking in transparency." She spoke out in favour of Goodluck Jonathan's assumption of presidential authority from Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, and was given the position of Minister of Petroleum Resources in Jonathan's new cabinet. 

Top priority for Allison-Madueke will be steering the Petroleum Industry Bill through the National Assembly. International oil companies hope that her early career with Shell (as head of External Relations in Nigeria) will make her sympathetic to their opposition to the Bill. Shell and ExxonMobil argue that it will render billions of dollars of investment unprofitable.