By Divine Sam
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has dismissed claims that its Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Mele Kyari, will exit the company in January 2025. NNPC spokesperson Olufemi Soneye, in an exclusive interview with DAILY POST, clarified that the reports regarding Kyari’s retirement are rumors, stating that the decision regarding his tenure lies with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Soneye emphasized that while Kyari has his tenure, it is ultimately the president’s prerogative to decide whether to retain or replace him. He further added that NNPC appointments are based on merit, skills, and the ability to deliver, rather than ethnic or religious considerations.
Kyari, who turns 60 in January 2025, was reappointed by President Tinubu in November 2023. Some industry stakeholders had speculated that his tenure might end soon, possibly leading to a replacement by Bayo Ojulari, although others assert that Kyari’s tenure could last until 2027, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (2021). Despite these speculations, Soneye reaffirmed that such claims are unfounded.
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