The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has responded to criticisms regarding the appointment and promotion of its leadership, asserting that President Bola Tinubu does not interfere in the company’s operations or influence internal appointments.
The company emphasized that employment, promotions, and leadership movements within NNPC are based strictly on merit, business requirements, and expertise, with no regard for ethnicity, tribe, religion, or political affiliation.
Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, issued a statement in response to an article titled “Tinubu’s Buharisation of the NNPC,” written by Prof. Farooq Kperogi. In his article, Kperogi had accused President Tinubu of orchestrating a “Yorubacentric” takeover of the NNPC, suggesting that Yoruba individuals now hold key positions in the company, and speculated about a potential successor to the current Group Managing Director, Mele Kyari.
According to him, decisions within the NNPCL “are guided strictly by merit, business requirements, and expertise.”
Kperogi had in his article criticised what he called “Tinubu’s relentless Yorubacentric take-over of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC)” alleging that “Yoruba people now occupy major positions at the NNPC and that a certain (person) is ‘being proposed as GMD after Mele Kyari’s term expires early next year.”
Soneye rejected these allegations, labeling Kperogi’s claims as misconceptions about NNPCL’s operations and leadership structure. He reiterated that NNPCL’s focus is on delivering efficient and effective service, driven by a qualified team committed to business success.
The NNPCL spokesman also stated that President Tinubu’s administration does not interfere with the company’s internal operations. Rather, he highlighted the president’s efforts in implementing transformative policies that have significantly benefited the oil and gas sector, as well as the wider Nigerian economy. Soneye added that Tinubu’s approach has empowered institutions like NNPC to function independently, creating an environment conducive to growth and innovation.
Soneye further clarified that NNPCL is a professional organization with a diverse leadership team, including qualified foreign nationals who have strengthened the company’s production and distribution capacities. He expressed disappointment that Kperogi, a respected academic, would focus on ethnic identities to criticize the leadership structure at NNPC, framing it as an attempt to undermine President Tinubu.
Under the leadership of Mele Kyari, NNPCL has achieved notable successes and milestones, according to the company. These accomplishments, Soneye said, were driven by a commitment to excellence, not by ethnic or religious considerations. He pointed to significant advancements in exploration, production, and global partnerships that were previously seen as unattainable, emphasizing that the company’s success is a testament to its focus on competence and professionalism.
“On the contrary, his administration has introduced transformative policies that have added immense value to the oil and gas sector and the broader Nigerian economy.
” President Tinubu’s approach has been to empower institutions like the NNPC to operate independently while fostering a conducive environment for growth and innovation. His reforms have set a benchmark that has significantly improved the sector, surpassing the achievements of many of his predecessors,” he said.
The NNPCL spokesman continued, “The presence of qualified foreigners in the employ of the NNPC, who have been bolstering the value chain of production and distribution of allied products, is verifiable.
” It is, thus, sad that a professor of Mr Kperogi’s standing would resort to and play up the issue of ethnic identities in the configuration of the work team in NNPC just to demonise President Tinubu.”
“These milestones were not defined, coloured or contoured by primordial fault-lines of tribe and religion. They were inspired by the collective drive for excellence. These milestones include groundbreaking advancements in exploration, production, and global partnerships that were previously thought unattainable. This success is a testament to the company’s focus on competence and professionalism rather than on parochialism as insinuated in the editorial offerings by Mr. Kperogi,” he added.
