Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Nigeria’s national oil company is repositioning natural gas as a strategic weapon against Africa’s deepening energy poverty, as NNPC Ltd moves to align commercial growth with continental development goals.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, made this known at the recently concluded Nigeria International Energy Summit, NIES 2026 in Abuja, where he framed gas development not just as an energy policy choice but as a socio-economic imperative for Africa.
Ojulari said the persistence of energy poverty across the continent, despite vast hydrocarbon endowments, demands a distinct African solution anchored on gas.
“Africa is rich in energy resources, yet over 600 million of our people still live without electricity. This reality means our energy transition cannot be a copy-and-paste of other regions,” he said.
According to him, Nigeria’s gas resources place the country in a unique position to lead a people-centred energy transition that balances development needs with sustainability.
“Gas sits at the heart of our strategy. It is our bridge to a cleaner future, our engine for industrialization, and our foundation for export-led growth,” Ojulari stated.
He disclosed that with 209 trillion cubic feet of gas and 37 billion barrels of crude oil, Nigeria has both the scale and credibility to anchor Africa’s energy transformation, provided investments are channelled into infrastructure that delivers real economic impact.
Ojulari stressed that NNPC Ltd is deliberately shifting focus toward gas as a primary fuel for industrial growth, power generation and regional energy integration.
“NNPC Ltd is not just a commercial entity; we are a peace and prosperity enabler. Energy must lift people out of poverty, power industries, support agriculture and unlock the creativity of Africa’s youth,” he said.
To support this pivot, the NNPCL boss revealed that the company has launched a new National Gas Masterplan while advancing critical infrastructure projects, including the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben, OB3, and Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano, AKK, gas pipelines, as well as the expansion of the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System, ELPS.
“These projects are more than pipelines. They are highways for economic opportunity and platforms for inclusive growth,” Ojulari noted.
He added that accelerating gas development would enhance energy access, improve affordability, and strengthen Nigeria’s position as a reliable energy partner within Africa and beyond, as global demand increasingly shifts toward cleaner fuels.
