Chika Eze, Abuja
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has called for bold international partnerships and increased investments to eliminate energy poverty across Africa.
Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, was speaking during an Energy Talk session at the ongoing Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC 2025) in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday.
Now in its 41st edition, ADIPEC—organised by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC)—is one of the world’s leading energy exhibitions and conferences, with the theme “Energy. Intelligence. Impact.”
Speaking with Pulitzer Prize-winning energy author Daniel Yergin, Engr. Ojulari highlighted Nigeria’s strategic role in Africa’s energy landscape, describing NNPC Ltd as the linchpin in the continent’s quest for energy security and sustainability.
He underscored Nigeria’s vast oil, gas, and renewable energy potential, noting that under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, efforts were underway to transform the country from an extractive economy into a diversified, investment-driven energy hub.
“Africa’s energy future must be built on pragmatism, partnerships, and purpose. At NNPC Limited, we are not just participating in the energy transition — we are shaping it from an African perspective. Our focus is pragmatic: grow production, monetise gas, deepen partnerships, and deliver value to Nigerians and global partners alike,” he said.
Ojulari revealed that NNPC Ltd had increased Nigeria’s oil output to 1.7 million barrels per day, with a target of reaching 2 million barrels by 2027 and 3 million in the long term.
This progress, he explained, was being achieved through renewed collaboration with international oil companies (IOCs) and independents, the removal of long-standing operational bottlenecks, and a shared commitment to value creation.
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Reaffirming the company’s determination to work with OPEC partners, African national oil companies, and global financial institutions, Ojulari disclosed that NNPC aimed to attract between $30 billion and $60 billion in new investments by 2030.
He added that recent government incentives, beyond the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), were already drawing capital into deep-water exploration, dry gas development, and cost reduction initiatives.
The GCEO also spotlighted major ongoing energy projects, including the accelerated development of new upstream fields, expansion of gas infrastructure such as the nearly completed Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) gas pipeline and the Obiafu–Obrikom–Oben (OB3) project, and the rollout of cleaner energy solutions through the Presidential CNG Initiative and the expansion of autogas corridors.
Echoing the remarks of Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and ADNOC CEO, who called for “pragmatic, not performative” energy policies and emphasised the need for $4 trillion in annual global energy investment, Engr. Ojulari urged global stakeholders to co-invest in Africa’s energy transformation.
“Our message to the world is clear: Nigeria is open for business. NNPC Limited is fit for the future, and we invite the world to co-invest in Africa’s energy transformation,” he concluded.
NNPC Limited’s participation at ADIPEC 2025 underscores its evolution into a commercially driven, globally engaged energy company—one that is not only powering Nigeria but also helping to shape the future of energy across the African continent.