World
Ojulari Tasks Africa to Accelerate Energy Transition
By Adedapo Adesanya
The chief executive of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mr Bashir Bayo Ojulari, says Nigeria will fill the gaps to be created by the complete phasing out of fossil fuel investments by Europeans.
He made this known while addressing industry leaders at the 7th African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation (APPO) National Oil Companies CEOs Forum in Ghana, according to a statement on Tuesday by Mr Andy Odeh, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC.
Mr Ojulari emphasised the urgency for Africa to accelerate its energy transition and secure its energy future, adding that there will be a decline of European investments in fossil fuel refineries, with most set to phase out by 2030.
He said this development had made it become imperative for Africa to take decisive action in harnessing its abundant 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,” Mr Ojulari said.
The NNPC chief outlined strategic infrastructure projects spearheaded by NNPC Ltd., including the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline project designed to strengthen connectivity across Nigeria’s energy network.
He further emphasised progress on the Nigeria–Morocco Gas Pipeline Project, an expansion of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP), expected to enhance 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,” he said.
He also expressed satisfaction over the enabling investment environment created by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), “which continues to open new opportunities for investors across the oil and gas value chain.”
On security, he disclosed that through strengthened partnerships with host communities and security agencies, Nigeria had achieved 100 per cent pipeline availability for the first time in two decades.
He described the achievement as a milestone that had restored confidence in the resilience of Nigeria’s energy infrastructure.
Benchmarking against global energy leaders such as Petrobras, Petronas, and Saudi Aramco, Mr Ojulari reiterated NNPC’s readiness to collaborate, share knowledge, and drive collective progress with African peers toward unlocking the continent’s full energy potential.
