Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC Ltd., has reaffirmed its commitment to leveraging gas as a driver of national prosperity, unveiling strategic initiatives to bolster the Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, sub-sector and improve energy access across the country.
Speaking virtually during the Mobility-CNG Stakeholders Workshop in Abuja, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, restated NNPC Ltd.’s resolve to collaborate with relevant government agencies and private sector players to actualise the Presidential CNG Initiative.
The forum was themed “Enhancing Industry Alignment for a Sustainable Mobility-CNG Sub-Sector.”
Ojulari highlighted the socio-economic benefits of Nigeria’s gas development efforts, noting that “gas is not only a cleaner and safer energy source, it is also central to unlocking industrial growth, ensuring food security, and providing sustainable energy to Nigerians.”
He stressed the need for all stakeholders to prioritise safety in the deployment and utilisation of CNG.
“Safety must be at the core of everything we do,” Ojulari said, urging industry players to build public trust by embedding robust safety standards into all operations within the gas value chain.
Reinforcing this, a key session at the workshop focused on enhancing safety frameworks.
Moderated by the Acting Chief Health, Safety and Environment Officer, Akpabio Essien, the session featured remarks from Gogomary Oyet, General Manager of HSE at NNPC Retail Ltd., who emphasised the company’s “Goal Zero” campaign, aimed at preventing incidents and injuries through staff-wide engagement and enforcement of best practices.
A major highlight of the workshop was the signing of a Joint Venture agreement between NNPC Gas Marketing Limited, NGML and Zuid Energies Limited for the construction of a 6 million standard cubic feet per day CNG plant and a 40million scf/day LNG facility in Ajaokuta, Kogi State.
The initiative, officials say, will provide off-grid energy access through innovative Virtual Pipeline Solutions, supporting industries and underserved communities outside the traditional pipeline network.
Managing Director of NGML, who participated in the signing, said the partnership demonstrates the company’s strategic intent to expand its gas marketing portfolio and help bridge Nigeria’s energy access gaps through cleaner fuels.
The Workshop drew participants from across the downstream value chain, including regulators, marketers, and transport sector stakeholders. It featured technical sessions on investment readiness, commercial opportunities, and CNG-powered mobility innovations.
