Bayo Ojulari, group chief executive officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, says Nigeria remains committed to partnering with other African nations to achieve sustainable energy security across the continent.
According to a statement by Andy Odeh, NNPC’s spokesperson, Ojulari spoke at the 7th African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation (APPO) National Oil Companies CEOs Forum.
He underscored the urgency for Africa to accelerate its energy transition and secure its energy future.
Ojulari highlighted the decline of European investments in fossil fuel refineries, most of which are expected to be phased out by 2030.
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The GCEO noted that this development makes it imperative for Africa to act decisively in harnessing its abundant energy resources for the benefit of its people.
“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 said.
The NNPC GCEO highlighted strategic infrastructure projects being spearheaded by NNPC, including the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project, designed to strengthen connectivity across Nigeria’s energy network.
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He further stressed progress on the Nigeria–Morocco Gas Pipeline Project, an extension of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP), designed to boost regional integration and cross-border energy trade.
“When we started, we faced challenges with alignment, payments, and collaboration, but today the framework is working. The plan is to extend the pipeline to Côte d’Ivoire as the first phase, and ultimately to Morocco,” Ojulari said.
He further noted that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) has created an enabling environment for investment, opening new opportunities across the oil and gas value chain.
On security, Ojulari said through strengthened partnerships with host communities and security agencies, Nigeria has achieved 100 percent pipeline availability for the first time in two decades — a milestone which he said has restored investor confidence in Nigeria’s energy infrastructure.
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Benchmarking with global energy leaders such as Petrobras, Petronas, and Saudi Aramco, Ojulari reaffirmed NNPC’s readiness to collaborate, share knowledge, and drive collective progress with African peers to unlock the continent’s full energy potential.
