The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has dismissed claims that its Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Mele Kyari, is set to step down.
Reacting to speculations published by The Africa Report following a leadership shakeup at NNPCL, the company’s spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, described the rumors as baseless and unfounded. The report alleged that Kyari might be forced out before the end of the year, citing anonymous sources who claimed that Kyari had confided in others about his readiness to leave and would likely step down within weeks.
In response, Soneye questioned the credibility of the claims, dismissing them as immature narratives lacking substance. He emphasized that Kyari’s leadership had been instrumental in steering NNPCL toward unprecedented achievements, including transitioning from years of losses to declaring profits and achieving a production milestone of 1.8 million barrels per day. Soneye stated that Kyari remains focused on advancing Nigeria’s energy sector and actualizing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for progress and development.
Soneye stressed that the baseless speculation was unfounded and likened it to a mirage, reaffirming Kyari’s commitment to delivering energy security for the nation. This comes amid a recent leadership restructuring within the company, which saw the appointment of new executives to key positions.