Tinubu Has The Final Say — NNPC Speaks On Reports Of Mele Kyari’s Exit

According to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has the last word regarding Mele Kyari’s purported departure as group chief executive officer in January 2025.

According to reports, Kyari, who will age 60 on January 8, 2025, may leave the military and be replaced by Bayo Ojulari. However, NNPC spokesperson Olufemi Soneye denied the rumors.

He asserts that although Kyari has his time and term at the NNPC, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has the authority to retain or dismiss the CEO of the firm.

“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. For us, it is to continue with our work and do it right.” Soneye said on Monday, December 30.

Rejecting accusations of ethic bias leveled at Tinubu towards his appointments, Soneye said: “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.”

Kyari and Gbenga Komolafe, the CEO of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Commission, were appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari and are currently serving under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.