PARIS OLYMPIC GAMES
Contrary to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s allegation, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has clarified that President Bola Tinubu has no interest in the acquisition of Oando Energy Marketing OVH assets.
The Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd., Mr. Olufemi Soneye, said in a statement late on Thursday that neither Mr. Wale Tinubu nor the President have any interest in the OVH acquisition.
He said: “Contrary to the false alarm raised, neither Wale Tinubu nor the President have any interest in the OVH acquisition.”
Soneye said the attention of NNPC Ltd. has been drawn to an allegation by Paul Ibe, a media adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, lamenting “the criminal hijack of the NNPC by corporate cabals around the current President.”
He also claimed that Mr. Mele Kyari’s retention as Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd. was compensation for OVH’s alleged acquisition of NNPC Retail Ltd., in which Mr. Wale Tinubu held a 49% stake.
He further alleged that the NNPC Retail Ltd.—OVH acquisition deal was part of a grand scheme by President Tinubu to integrate his personal business interests into Nigeria’s public enterprises at the federal level.
The statement, a copy of which was emailed to Persecondnews, said: “NNPC Ltd. wishes to set the records straight with the following facts: We are a commercially-focused and profit-driven company managed by professionals who are committed to adding value to the nation.
“Investment decisions by NNPC Ltd. management are strictly determined on the basis of commercial viability and national interest.“At the time NNPC Ltd acquired OVH in 2022, Oando (in which Mr. Wale Tinubu has equity interest) had fully divested its equity in OVH to the two other partners – Vitol and Helios.
“Oando actually began its divestment in 2016, with Vitol and Helios coming in as equity partners, leading to the change of name from Oando to OVH. In 2019, Oando fully divested its equity interest in OVH, resulting in Vitol and Helios holding 50% equity interests, respectively.
“Upon acquisition of OVH by NNPC Ltd., both NNPC Retail Ltd. and OVH effectively became subsidiaries of NNPC Ltd. However, based on professional advice and sound commercial considerations, NNPC Ltd. opted to merge NNPC Retail Limited into OVH and thereafter retain NNPC Retail Limited as the company name post-merger.
”The first step of merging NNPC Retail Ltd. into OVH has been completed, and the post-merger renaming as NNPC Retail Ltd. is ongoing.
“As a businessman, the former Vice President should know that effectiveness in business leadership is best measured by balance sheets and bottom lines rather than pedestrian considerations.”
Soneye added: “The management of NNPC Ltd., under the leadership of Mr. Mele Kyari, has done very well in growing the company’s fortunes, as shown in the 2023 Audited Financial Statement (AFS), where it reported N3.3 trillion as profit after tax.
“NNPC Ltd., as a commercial entity, is devoid of political interest and shall continue to conduct its business full of commitment to national interest and value creation for the benefit of all stakeholders.
“NNPC Ltd. shall resist any attempt to draw its board and management into partisan politics.”
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