By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and Algeria’s Sonatrach have partnered through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to drive decarbonisation and innovation in Africa’s oil sector.

The agreement, signed by NNPC’s Executive Vice President for Business Services, Mrs Sophia Mbakwe, and Sonatrach’s Managing Director, Ms Khodjah Mohamed, establishes collaboration in research, technology exchange, and development.

The agreement signed by the state oil companies of both nations took place during the opening ceremony of the 3rd Meeting of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation (APPO) Forum for R&D Directors at the PTDF Tower in Abuja, Nigeria. The event brought together research and development directors from APPO member countries.

The minister of state for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Mr Heineken Lokpobiri, said the forum was one of four measures introduced by APPO to address challenges from the global energy transition, which centre on funding, technology and markets.

“The R&D forum tackles technology and expertise needs, the African Energy Bank addresses funding constraints, and the Central African Pipeline System supports regional oil and gas market integration,” Mr Lokpobiri, who was represented by former secretary general of APPO, Mr Omar Farouk Ibrahim, stated.

On his part, the Group chief executive officer, NNPC Limited, Mr Bayo Ojulari, represented by the company’s chief financial officer, Mr Adedapo Segun, said research and development must form a central part of the overall strategy in the African oil and gas industry.

He called for research and development centres to function as engines of industrial competitiveness. “Collaboration in research and development is of strategic importance. The cost of innovation might be high, but the cost of obsolescence would be greater,” he stressed.

Mr Ojulari called for a unified strategic framework through which resources could be pooled, data integrated and risks shared across member countries. He further urged the rapid adoption of digital technologies, artificial intelligence and advanced engineering to improve upstream, midstream and downstream operations.

On his part, the APPO Secretary General, Mr Farid Ghezali, urged African petroleum-producing countries to ensure research in the oil and gas sector produced solutions that are practical and directly relevant to the continent. “We must ensure that our research delivers solutions that are practical and of direct use to Africa,” he stated.

Also speaking, Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Mr Shu’aibu Shehu Aliyu, highlighted the value of the partnership between NNPC Limited and PTDF in support of decarbonisation and environmental protection work across APPO member countries.

Chief innovation officer of NNPC Research, Technology and Innovation and incoming chairman of the APPO R&D Directors Forum, Mr Rasheed Ojulari, said the forum would give immediate priority to joint programmes in the core areas of upstream optimisation, artificial intelligence, decarbonisation processes and industrial systems development.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, has resigned from office and proposed the creation of a Coordinating Minister for Energy to drive integrated reforms across Nigeria’s power and gas sectors.

The former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to President Bola Tinubu, said his resignation will take effect from April 30, 2026, to enable him to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

He noted that his decision is in line with the provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which bars serving political office holders from contesting elections.

Confirming the development, the Minister’s Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, said Mr Adelabu expressed appreciation to the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his tenure as a privilege to contribute to national development.

The outgoing minister stressed the need for stronger coordination in the energy sector, recommending the establishment of a Coordinating Minister for Energy to harmonise policies and ensure effective implementation across power, gas and related sectors.

He added that peak power generation increased to over 6,000 megawatts, driven by the integration of the Zungeru Hydropower Plant and the rehabilitation of thermal plants.

He also noted improvements in transmission capacity through grid upgrades under the Presidential Power Initiative, as well as progress in the distribution segment, including enhanced regulatory oversight, improved revenue collection and efforts to reduce Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) losses.

According to him, strides were also made in closing the metering gap through the Presidential Metering Initiative and the World Bank-supported Distribution Sector Recovery Programme.

On the financial side, Mr Adelabu said tariff reforms and a N4 trillion debt restructuring programme boosted market revenues from N1 trillion in 2023 to N2.3 trillion in 2025, helping to restore investor confidence in the sector.

Despite these gains, he acknowledged ongoing challenges such as gas supply constraints, infrastructure vandalism and the need for full commercialisation of the electricity value chain.

To address these issues, he proposed measures including the implementation of cost-reflective tariffs with targeted subsidies, recapitalisation of distribution companies, accelerated nationwide metering, sustained investment in transmission infrastructure and stronger regulatory enforcement.

Mr Adelabu emphasised that the creation of a Coordinating Minister for Energy would provide the strategic oversight needed to improve gas supply for power generation, optimise hydroelectric resources and accelerate renewable energy development.

He assured that he would ensure a smooth handover process and thanked the President for his support throughout his time in office.

By Dipo Olowookere

No fewer than 204 free retail stalls would be made available to vendors participating in the 9th GTCO Food and Drink Festival from Friday, May 1, to Sunday, May 3, 2026, at GTCentre, Plot 1 Water Corporation Drive, Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The prestigious event is the brainchild of a global financial services organisation, Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) Plc, which is listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited and the London Stock Exchange (LSE).

This year’s theme, Everything Food and Drink, captures the expansive nature of the festival experience, reflecting not only the variety of cuisines on display but also the depth of stories behind them.

Over the years, the GTCO Food and Drink Festival has grown far beyond a seasonal celebration to become a culturally significant platform where food and drink serve as a meeting point for storytelling, innovation, and opportunity.

The provision of the free retail stalls is to showcase the rich diversity and creativity of the Nigerian food culture; from time-honoured traditional dishes preserved across generations, to bold contemporary interpretations of global cuisine, creating space for every flavour, every technique, and every craving to find expression.

Visitors can expect a rich programme featuring interactive masterclasses, live culinary demonstrations, food and wine tastings, and a vibrant marketplace showcasing small and medium-scale food businesses alongside established culinary brands.

In addition to its wide range of food and drink offerings, the GTCO Food and Drink Festival is renowned for its family-friendly atmosphere, with a well-equipped play area and a variety of engaging activities for children, ensuring an unforgettable experience for the whole family.

“The GTCO Food and Drink Festival has, over the years, become a living expression of what we stand for as an institution: innovation, opportunity, and enterprise that is accessible to all.

“What makes this platform special is not just its scale, but its humanity. It brings together people from different walks of life around something universal—food and drink—and in doing so, it breaks barriers and builds connections that extend far beyond the event itself,” the chief executive of GTCO, Mr Segun Agbaje, commented.

Since its inception, the GTCO Food and Drink Festival has positioned itself as one of Africa’s most prominent culinary gatherings, attracting participation from across Nigeria and increasingly from the wider continent and diaspora.

Admission remains free and open to all, reaffirming the festival’s commitment to accessibility as a consumer-focused event that brings people together through food, drink, culture, and enterprise.