The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Bayo Ojulari, has called on African nations to forge stronger partnerships to achieve sustainable energy security across the continent.
Andy Odeh, NNPC Chief Corporate Communications Officer, in a statement on Tuesday, said Ojulari spoke at the 7th African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation (APPO) National Oil Companies CEOs Forum.
He underscored the urgent need for Africa to accelerate its energy transition and take control of its energy future.
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Ojulari highlighted a significant challenge facing the continent: the planned phase-out of European investments in fossil fuel refineries by 2030.
He noted that this development makes it crucial for Africa to act decisively to harness its own abundant resources. “Africa must take ownership of its resources and policies,” he stated.
“With our vast resource base and improved governance structures, I am confident the continent can secure its energy destiny.”
Ojulari detailed several strategic infrastructure projects led by NNPC Ltd. aimed at strengthening regional energy networks.
He cited the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline and significant progress on the Nigeria–Morocco Gas Pipeline Project, an expansion of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP).
Ojulari explained that while the project initially faced challenges with alignment and payments, the framework is now functional, with plans to extend the pipeline to Côte d’Ivoire in the first phase and eventually to Morocco.
Furthermore, Ojulari pointed to the enabling investment environment created by Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which he says is opening new opportunities for investors in the oil and gas sector.
On the security front, he announced a major milestone for Nigeria’s energy infrastructure.
Through enhanced partnerships with host communities and security agencies, the country has achieved 100% pipeline availability for the first time in two decades, a feat he said has restored confidence in the resilience of the nation’s energy network.
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To unlock the continent’s full energy potential, Ojulari stressed NNPC Ltd.’s readiness to collaborate and share knowledge with its African counterparts, benchmarking with global energy giants like Petrobras, Petronas, and Saudi Aramco.
The call for collaboration and shared progress comes as African nations look to navigate a shifting global energy landscape and secure their own energy futures.
