The Presidency has reacted to reports making the rounds that Mr. Mele Kolo Kyari, the new Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is a blood relation to Abba Kyari, President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of staff.
DAILY POST reported that Mele Kolo Kyari appointment as new NNPC MD takes effect from 8 July.
He replaces Dr. Maikanti Baru as the 19th Group Managing Director of the National Oil Company.
A release on Wednesday in Abuja by the NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, stated that President Buhari also appointed alongside Kyari, seven new Chief Operating Officers.
His appointment has since stirred reactions online as some Nigerians wondered why Buhari appointed a ‘blood relation’ to Abba Kyari as the new NNPC MD.
However, Buhari’s media aide, Bashir Ahmaad speaking on the development on his Twitter page on Thursday said Mele Kyari is not related to Abba Kyari.
According to him, the reports making the rounds on social media is false.
Ahmaad wrote: “Despite the fact that Mr. Mele Kyari the recent appointed GMD of the NNPC is from Borno State, but he is NOT related to Mallam Abba Kyari, Chief of Staff to the President as some social media users are busy sharing the fake news.”
