The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to partnering with other African nations to achieve sustainable energy security across the continent.
Speaking at the 7th African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation (APPO) National Oil Companies CEOs Forum, Ojulari underscored the need for Africa to accelerate its energy transition and safeguard its energy future in light of the gradual withdrawal of European investments in fossil fuel refineries, most of which are projected to be phased out by 2030.
“Africa must take ownership of its resources and policies. Our policies should be designed by us. With our vast resource base and improved governance structures, I am confident the continent can secure its energy destiny,” he stated.
Highlighting NNPC’s ongoing infrastructure projects, Ojulari pointed to the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline, aimed at boosting domestic connectivity, and the Nigeria–Morocco Gas Pipeline Project, an expansion of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP), designed to foster regional integration and cross-border energy trade. He revealed that the first phase would extend the pipeline to Côte d’Ivoire before reaching Morocco.
The GCEO also emphasized the enabling environment provided by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which he said continues to attract new investment opportunities across the oil and gas value chain.
On security, he disclosed that Nigeria has achieved 100% pipeline availability for the first time in 20 years through strengthened collaboration with host communities and security agencies, a milestone he said has restored investor confidence in the resilience of the country’s energy infrastructure.
Ojulari further noted that NNPC Ltd. is benchmarking global energy giants such as Petrobras, Petronas, and Saudi Aramco, and expressed readiness to deepen collaboration with African peers to unlock the continent’s full energy potential.
