The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd has refuted claims that promotions at the nation’s oil company in recent years have been reduced to ethnicity, religion and political affiliations.
Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, in his rebuttal article titled ‘Setting the record straight: Meritocracy and milestones at NNPC’, said the important concerns raised by Kperogi’s recent article, “Tinubu’s Buharisation of the NNPC”, necessitated his article to clarify some of the misconceptions about the operations and leadership structure of the NNPC Limited.
According to him, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not interfering in the operational or leadership movements within the nation’s oil company. He stated that employment, promotions, appointments, and movements of business leaders at the NNPC are not influenced by ethnicity, tribe, religion, or political affiliation but 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. It is significant that our company focuses on efficient and effective service delivery, which is anchored on the commitment of qualified work team.
“The NNPC prides itself on being a professional organisation with a diverse leadership lineup that includes individuals from various parts of the world, not just Nigeria. 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,” Soneye wrote.
Continuing, the article criticised the position of Kperogi, saying the professor resorted “to play up the issue of ethnic identities in the configuration of the work team in NNPC just to demonise President Tinubu.”
“This editorial preoccupation of Mr Kperogi is nothing but sheer red herring, ostensibly orchestrated to detract the President’s disciplined leadership that upholds the freedom of the NNPC as well as the company’s work ethic that has produced its strings of sterling performances.”
On Mele Kyari’s leadership, the NNPC spokesperson said the oil company achieved remarkable milestones and recorded several “firsts” in the industry, including groundbreaking advancements in exploration, production, and global partnerships that were previously thought unattainable.
He added that these “milestones were not defined, coloured or contoured by primordial fault-lines of tribe and religion” but inspired by the collective drive for excellence, adding that such is a testament that the company is never focused on parochialism but competence and professionalism.
“Regarding Mr Kperogi’s notions about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it is essential to highlight that Mr President has not interfered in the operations or leadership movements within the NNPC. 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.
“It is disappointing that individuals like Mr. Kperogi, who have lived and observed governance structures abroad, would overlook these accomplishments and focus on divisive narratives. Symbolism, while important, must not overshadow the substantive achievements and transformative impact of policies and leadership on national development,” the spokesperson added.
He however urged the columnist to visit the NNPC to “witness firsthand the professionalism, sacrifices, and daily efforts that go into driving Nigeria’s economic engine,” adding that the company remains “committed to fostering unity, embracing diversity, and upholding the principles of meritocracy.”
