The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has dismissed recent claims about the impending departure of its Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Mele Kyari, in January 2025. The organization clarified that any decision regarding Kyari’s tenure lies solely with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In an exclusive interview with DAILY POST, NNPCL spokesperson Olufemi Soneye labeled the reports as unfounded rumors. Some industry observers had speculated that Kyari, who turns 60 on January 8, 2025, might retire and be succeeded by Bayo Ojulari. However, Soneye refuted these assumptions.
“I don’t know anything about that; all those things are rumors and false. The man (Mele Kyari) has his time and tenure; the president has the final say. As the Minister of Petroleum, anything he wants to do, he will do,” Soneye remarked.
He emphasized that appointments within NNPCL are based strictly on expertise and performance, not on ethnicity, religion, or other biases. Soneye highlighted the company’s commitment to professionalism, noting that it employs talent globally, including Dutch, American, and British nationals in leadership roles.
This is a global energy company. Movement in the company is based on expertise, skills, and ability to deliver, not on the basis that you are from X, Y, or Z; you are Muslim or Christian. Gone are the days we did that; if we do that, we cannot have foreigners working for us. We have Dutch, American, and British managing directors of our businesses. If we are doing only Muslim, Christian, Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba, we won’t have them. Where we have Nigerians that can deliver, they are there. We, the company, look for professionals that can deliver,” he told DAILY POST.
The speculation around Kyari’s tenure is occurring amid discussions about the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021. Some stakeholders argue that his term may extend until 2027, as per the provisions of Section 59(2) of the PIA.
Kyari, appointed during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, was re-endorsed by Tinubu in November 2023 to lead the company. Despite surviving numerous leadership changes under Tinubu’s presidency, Kyari has faced criticism regarding perceived ethnic biases in recent NNPCL appointments.
Prominent voices, including Professor Farooq Kperogi and ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, have questioned the inclusivity of Tinubu’s appointments. While El-Rufai has called for greater representation, the presidency has defended its actions, dismissing these criticisms as unfounded.
