The President, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Francis Johnson is dead.

Johnson died in the early hours of Friday at the National Hospital Abuja, after a brief illness.

This was disclosed in a statement jointly signed by the Deputy President of the Association, Frank Esanubi, and the Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa.

Johnson was on the final lap of his six-year tenure as PENGASSAN President before his demise.

“On behalf of the National Executive Council (NEC), Central Working Committee (CWC), members and staff of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), we announce the untimely and painful death of Comrade Francis Olabode Johnson, President PENGASSAN in the early hours of Friday 31st May 2019 at National Hospital Abuja, after a brief illness.

“Late Comrade F.O. Johnson until his passing on was a staff of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and was on the final lap of his eventful and transformational six years tenure as President PENGASSAN, having been elected to that position in June 2014 and re-elected in 2017.

“Comrade Johnson will be remembered by his comrades, co-workers, family and friends for being thoughtful, humorous, compassionate and transparent as he touched the lives of so many and was the very embodiment of strength, patience, and perseverance,” the statement read in parts.

The statement added that Johnson’s attributes propelled him to develop a deep connection with nature, zest for life and the total transformation of PENGASSAN National Secretariat.

He is said to have initiated the e-library and Events Resources Centres in all of the Zonal offices of the association.

Burial rites will be communicated to the general public soon.