The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has strongly rejected rumors claiming that its Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Mele Kyari, is planning to step down.

This follows reports from The Africa Report, which suggested that Kyari might leave before the end of the year. According to the report, anonymous sources had said that Kyari was ready to resign and that he might step down in the coming weeks.

In response, NNPCL spokesperson Olufemi Soneye called the rumors “baseless” and said they had no truth. He stressed that these claims lacked credibility and were just immature narratives. Soneye pointed out that Kyari’s leadership has been a key factor in NNPCL’s successes, including turning the company from years of losses into profit and reaching a record 1.8 million barrels of oil production per day.

Soneye further stated that Kyari remains committed to advancing Nigeria’s energy sector and helping to achieve President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s goals for national progress. He emphasized that the speculation about Kyari’s resignation is unfounded, describing it as a mere illusion. Despite recent leadership changes within the company, Kyari is staying focused on the long-term vision for Nigeria’s energy security.