The Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd. has officially dismissed rumors and speculations surrounding its alleged intentions to relocate its headquarters from Abuja to Lagos. Mr. Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPC, made this clarification during the investigative hearing conducted by the ad hoc committee on the acquisition of OVH Energy by NNPCL on Friday.
Contrary to claims made by certain petitioners, Kyari asserted that NNPC had no plans to shift its headquarters to Lagos, despite its present status as a private company registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission. He attributed these speculations to the fact that a significant portion of the company’s operations were already based in Lagos, emphasizing that relocating the headquarters would impose additional costs on the organization.
Kyari explained that NNPC Ltd. had streamlined its operations and strategically positioned personnel where they were most needed. He highlighted that the company’s registered headquarters remained in Abuja, and the mere presence of the GCEO alongside the operations staff did not indicate a move to Lagos.
He further elaborated, “Those making these allegations may be doing so because they are resistant to the changes that come with mergers and acquisitions, which is a common challenge worldwide. We have offered them the option to resign if they are not comfortable with the new arrangements. The company cannot retain employees where their roles are redundant, and this is essentially what these petitions are addressing.”
Kyari underscored that in any merger and acquisition process, it is essential for the dominant culture to prevail, especially in terms of service. This, he stated, was precisely what NNPC Ltd. was implementing. He concluded by saying, “Mergers and acquisitions come with their unique set of challenges, but we are working diligently to minimize their impact and ensure the continued success of our business.”
