Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, has said Nigeria is committed to partnering with other African nations to achieve sustainable energy security.
Gatekeepers News reports that speaking at the 7th African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation (APPO) CEOs Forum, he stressed the urgency for Africa to accelerate its energy transition.
Ojulari explained that with European fossil fuel refineries expected to be phased out by 2030, Africa must take ownership of its resources and policies.
He added, “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.”
The GCEO highlighted ongoing NNPC-led projects such as the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) pipeline and the Nigeria–Morocco Gas Pipeline, describing them as strategic initiatives to improve connectivity and regional trade.
He said, “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 also noted that Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) has opened new opportunities across the oil and gas value chain, while strengthened partnerships with host communities and security agencies have enabled 100 percent pipeline availability for the first time in two decades.
He reaffirmed NNPC’s readiness to collaborate with African peers, adding that benchmarking with global leaders such as Petrobras, Petronas, and Saudi Aramco would help unlock the continent’s full energy potential.
