The spokesperson of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, has resigned.

Soneye disclosed this in a statement made available to Ekwutosblog on Saturday.

He said he would no longer be the spokesperson for the oil giant, as he had “stepped aside from his role as Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd”.

Soneye said he wants to devote more time to his family, and attend to personal responsibilities that now require his closer presence.

NNPCL appointed Soneye as its spokesperson in August 2021.

Soneye’s full statement:

Dear Esteemed Colleagues,

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. Your role in building a vibrant and effective communications presence for our national energy company has been nothing short of invaluable.

I wish to inform you that I have stepped aside from my role as Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd.

This decision will allow me to devote more time to my family and attend to personal responsibilities that now require my closer presence.

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. 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.

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.

With sincere appreciation,

Olufemi Soneye.

The Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, has announced a review of its service fees, scheduled to take effect from August 1, 2025.

Ekwutosblog learnt that the review followed a thorough evaluation of current economic conditions, rising operational costs, and consultations with key stakeholders across relevant sectors by the Commission.

The adjustments affect services provided to companies, business names, limited partnerships, and incorporated trustees, including post-incorporation filings and other regulatory services.

A comprehensive list of the new fees is available on the CAC website.

The adjustment is reportedly aimed at improving service delivery through enhanced digital operations.

Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc recently appointed Mr Arnold Ekpe as the new Chairman of its Board, effective 16th June 2025.

Ekpe’s appointment comes after the retirement of Alhaji Aliko Dangote as Chairman of the company on Wednesday.

Dangote’s retirement brought an end to a 20-year leadership of the company.

His retirement will take effect starting from June 16, this year, according to a statement issued yesterday by Company Secretary Temitope Hassan.

However, Ekwutosblog brings you seven things you need to know about Dangote’s replacement, Arnold Ekpe:

1. Ekpe is a seasoned finance professional with more than thirty years of experience in the corporate sectors and banking.

2. He was born in Aug. 1953 in Nigeria, and went to King’s College, Lagos, where he graduated in 1972 and later traveled to abroad for his tertiary education.

3. Ekpe attended the University of Manchester and earned a First Class Honours degree in Engineering as a Shell Scholar (1973–1976).

4. He later obtained an MBA from Manchester Business School (1977–1979).

5. Ekpe started his career in 1977 with Schlumberger SA as a Wireline Logging Engineer.

6. He joined Alcan Aluminium Nigeria as Executive Assistant to the CEO in 1979.

7. Ekpe then entered the banking industry in the early 1980s, starting at International Merchant Bank (an affiliate of First Chicago) as Head of Strategy.

8. He later became Group CEO of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, a role he held until his retirement in 2012.

9. He has served as an Independent Non‑Executive Director at Dangote Sugar Refinery since 2024.