There is mounting anxiety over the impending expiration of the tenure of the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, and the potential appointment of a new leader for the oil giant.
With Kyari set to turn 60 on January 8, 2025, many industry observers speculate that he may step down, sparking discussions about the future leadership of the company.
This development comes as some industry players argue that the GCEO’s tenure should run until 2027, citing Section 59(2) of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, which stipulates that, “The composition of the Board of the NNPC Limited shall be determined in accordance with the Companies and Allied Matters Act and its Articles of Association.”
In July 2022, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company transitioned from a public corporation to a limited liability company, with Mele Kyari assuming the role of Group Chief Executive Officer after previously serving as Group Managing Director.
Kyari, appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in July 2019, is a seasoned veteran in the oil industry, having spent 32 years at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company.
His tenure of over five years as NNPC’s boss is the longest anyone has held the position since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.
Kyari is one of the few appointments, alongside Gbenga Komolafe, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Commission, that President Bola Tinubu inherited and has yet to dismiss.
Recently, Farooq Kperogi, a U.S.-based Nigerian professor of journalism, criticized Tinubu’s continued Yoruba-centric approach in the leadership of NNPCL.
Kperogi, in an article titled, ‘Tinubu’s Buharisation of the NNPC’, accused President Tinubu of appointing Yoruba people to key positions at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
The report indicate that an anonymous source has suggested Bayo Ojulari as a potential candidate to succeed Mele Kyari as the GCEO of NNPCL once his term expires.
The immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, posted on X, stating that “two wrongs do not make a right,” a remark widely interpreted as a criticism of Buhari’s perceived bias for northerners in his appointments.
El-Rufai, however, called for sensible inclusion, opposing what he referred to as “arrogant exclusion” in leadership selections.
The post read, “DECEMBER MESSAGE: Two wrongs do not make a right. Sensible inclusion always trumps arrogant exclusion!!.”
The article sparked widespread reactions and condemnation, prompting NNPCL spokesperson, Femi Soneye to issue a statement clarifying that employment, promotions, appointments, and leadership changes within the company are not influenced by ethnicity, tribe, religion, or political affiliation.
“First, employment, promotions, appointments, and movements of business leaders at the NNPC are not influenced by ethnicity, tribe, religion, or political affiliation. Therefore, decisions within the NNPC are guided strictly by merit, business requirements, and expertise.
“This approach ensures that only the most qualified and competent individuals occupy positions that are critical to the company’s success. Significantly, our company focuses on efficient and effective service delivery, which is anchored on the commitment of a qualified work team,” he stated.
Reacting to comments about the possible removal of Kyari as NNPCL boss, Soneye said, “The claim is entirely false and misleading, lacking credibility and showing clear signs of manipulation. The GCEO’s tenure has been exceptional, marked by numerous firsts and remarkable accomplishments for NNPC Ltd. Kindly disregard these baseless and dubious claims.”
