Claims of bullying and internal intimidation within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) have been firmly dismissed by insiders and industry observers, who say reports linking such allegations to the resignation of Engr. Seyi Omotowa are misleading and unsupported by facts.
Engr. Omotowa, who recently stepped down as Chief Upstream Investment Officer of NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), has been at the centre of speculation suggesting internal discord within Africa’s largest energy company. However, multiple senior officials familiar with the matter told this newspaper that his exit was a routine executive transition consistent with global corporate practice.
“There is absolutely no culture of bullying or intimidation at NNPC Ltd,” a senior official said. “The organisation operates on clear governance structures, performance benchmarks and accountability. Executive movements occur from time to time and are handled professionally.”
Checks across different departments indicate a broad consensus that NNPC’s leadership environment encourages robust debate and constructive engagement, not fear or coercion. According to insiders, differing views are resolved through established institutional mechanisms rather than personal confrontation.
“Healthy disagreement is part of decision-making in any serious organisation,” another executive noted. “It should not be misconstrued as dysfunction or hostility.”
Independent industry analysts also cautioned against amplifying narratives of crisis around leadership changes, noting that executive turnover is common in large, complex energy organisations worldwide.
“Senior-level transitions occur regularly in the global energy sector,” an analyst said. “They do not, on their own, indicate instability or internal conflict.”
Further checks by this newspaper found no verifiable evidence to support claims of bullying or intimidation within NNPC Ltd. Both internal and external stakeholders described the company’s leadership as cohesive, aligned and focused on delivering its mandate.
Observers said management attention remains firmly on energy security, production growth, infrastructure delivery and ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening the company’s commercial orientation and national value proposition. They warned that unsubstantiated narratives risk distracting from these priorities and undermining institutional stability.
Available evidence, insiders insist, points to an organisation operating with unity and professionalism, with its leadership working collaboratively to advance NNPC Ltd’s transformation agenda, despite attempts in some quarters to portray routine corporate developments as internal turmoil.