Femi Soneye has resigned as Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) after serving for nearly 20 months in the role .
In a statement released on Saturday, June 21, Soneye said the decision was motivated by a desire to dedicate more time to his family and manage pressing personal matters.
“I wish to inform you that I have stepped aside from my role as Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd.,” he wrote. “This decision will allow me to devote more time to my family and attend to personal responsibilities that now require my closer presence.”
Soneye, who assumed office on October 18, 2023, thanked colleagues, media partners, and stakeholders for their support:
“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to you all for the unwavering support, professionalism, and genuine commitment you’ve shown in helping to shape and amplify the NNPC Ltd story over the past 20 months,” he said .
Describing his tenure as an honour, Soneye lauded the collaborative efforts that helped build a vibrant communications identity for the company:
“It has been a profound honour to serve both the Company and our country, and to contribute in my own way to the ongoing transformation of NNPC Ltd,” he noted. “I am deeply grateful for the trust reposed in me, the opportunities granted, and the incredible professionals both within and outside the organisation with whom I have worked.”
Though no immediate successor has been announced, Soneye emphasized that he will remain a supporter of NNPC Ltd.’s mission:
“I remain a steadfast supporter and ambassador of NNPC Ltd wherever I go. I enjoin you, dear colleagues, to continue your robust, balanced, and constructive reportage in support of the Company’s noble mission and strategic role in Nigeria’s energy future.”
Soneye, a seasoned media professional with experience in Nigeria, Australia, and the United States, previously served as editor of the U.S. Air Force One Magazine in Washington, D.C., and led the Nigerian Media Practitioners in the U.S. .
NNPC Ltd. has yet to officially confirm his resignation or name a replacement.
