The Group Chief Government Officer (GCEO) of the Nigeria Nationwide Petroleum Firm (NNPC) Restricted, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, mentioned that as an rising international power powerhouse, Nigeria has the duty to utilise its plentiful fuel assets to energy Africa’s rise and contribute meaningfully to international stability.
In line with a press release by the Chief Company Communications Officer of NNPC, Andy Odeh, this was disclosed by Ojulari throughout an tackle on the opening ceremony of the Nigeria Worldwide Power Summit (NIES) 2026 held on the Banquet Corridor of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Ojulari mentioned Nigeria’s plentiful fuel assets is likely one of the nation’s main pathways to a affluent future.
What the NNPC GCEO is saying
The NNPC boss famous that Africa ought to concentrate on offering equitable, people-centred power additions for its over 600 million inhabitants, nonetheless with out entry to electrical energy.
Ojulari mentioned, “Nigeria’s pathway to a affluent future lies in our collective capability to leverage our useful resource abundance, particularly as fuel sits on the coronary heart of our technique. It’s our bridge to a cleaner future, our engine for industrialization, and our basis for export-led development.’’
Describing what he termed Africa’s power trilemma, Ojulari mentioned that although the African continent is endowed with huge power assets, it nonetheless grapples with problems with accessibility, affordability, and sustainability, with over 600 million Africans dwelling with out entry to electrical energy.
He mentioned that with 37 billion barrels crude oil and 209 trillion cubic ft of fuel reserves, Nigeria and the NNPC Ltd are prepared to guide the cost in altering the narrative.
“With over 600 million Africans nonetheless missing electrical energy, the continent’s precedence can’t be a duplicate and paste. Ours have to be a simply, equitable, people-centred power additions, one which lifts our folks out of poverty, powers industries, helps agriculture, transforms transportation, and unleashes the creativity of Africa’s youth”, he said.
He mentioned NNPC Ltd was not only a industrial entity but additionally a peace and prosperity enabler.
Ojulari listed aggressive progress of strategic fuel tasks as the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3), Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) fuel pipelines, and the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) enlargement, as a part of steps taken to reinforce entry to fuel as the first gas for driving industrialization and financial development.
What it is best to know
In a associated growth, the Dangote Group on February 1, 2025, three subsidiaries of the conglomerate have strengthened fuel provide contracts with models of the NNPC Ltd to assist their enlargement plans, aligning with Nigeria’s push towards cleaner power and industrial development.
The contracts contain Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Dangote Fertiliser Plant, and Dangote Cement Plc with Nigerian Fuel Advertising and marketing Restricted and NNPC Fuel Infrastructure Firm, though the contracted volumes weren’t revealed.
The offers come as Nigeria seeks to spice up fuel manufacturing and utilization throughout its economic system, leveraging the sector to drive industrialization, appeal to funding, and enhance infrastructure.
