It's not about signing Agreements, It is about igniting the Engine of Nigeria’s Industrialisation, NNPCL Boss screams

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has signed six strategic agreements with key industry partners to deepen gas utilisation, strengthen energy security and accelerate Nigeria’s gas-based industrialisation drive.

The agreements signed on the sidelines of the 25th Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) Energy Week in Abuja include a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a Gas Sale and Aggregation Agreement (GSAA) with Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL).

The agreements also include a Gas Sale Agreement (GSA) with UTM Floating LNG (FLNG), and three Network Entry Agreements (NEnAs) with Chevron Nigeria Ltd., AGPC and NNPC Exploration and Production Limited(NEPL).

Speaking at the signing, Bashir Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Limited, described the agreements as a major step toward implementing the Federal Government’s gas-based industrialisation agenda.

Ojulari said the agreements would unlock new domestic gas supply, strengthen the Nigerian Gas Transportation Network Code and position gas as a catalyst for economic transformation.

“What we are witnessing today is not just about signing agreements. It is about igniting the engine of Nigeria’s industrialisation. 

“Gas is not only a source of revenue and profit, but also the hydrocarbon with the greatest potential to transform Nigeria’s economy,” he said.

He also said that the agreements reflected NNPC Limited’s commitment to transparency, operational efficiency and strategic partnerships that would promote local content, enhance energy security and attract investment into the country’s gas value chain.

A major highlight of the ceremony was the partnership with ASCL, under which both organisations agreed to collaborate on reviving the Ajaokuta Steel Complex and expanding domestic gas utilisation.

The MoU also seeks to support local production of steel pipes required for strategic infrastructure projects, including the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP) and the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) Phase three.

The accompanying 20-year GSAA, signed by NEPL, Gas Aggregation Company of Nigeria (GACN) and ASCL, provides for the supply of three million standard cubic feet per day (MMscf/d) of gas and 47 MMscf/d of interruptible gas to power the Ajaokuta steel complex.

NNPC Limited and its Seplat Energy Producing Nigeria Unlimited (SEPNU) Joint Venture also signed a 15-year Wet Gas Sale and Purchase Agreement with UTM FLNG Limited.

Under the agreement, the joint venture will supply 200 MMscf/d of gas to the UTM FLNG project, providing the feed gas needed to support project financing and pave the way for a Final Investment Decision (FID) expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.

In addition, NNPC Limited signed Network Entry Agreements with Chevron Nigeria Limited AGPC and NEPL to migrate legacy interconnection arrangements to the Nigerian Gas Transportation Network Code.

The agreements are expected to inject up to 800 MMscf/d of natural gas into the domestic gas transportation network, improving supplies to power plants, gas-based industries and industrial clusters while enhancing network efficiency and reliability.

The signing was witnessed by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri and the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen.

Others were the Commission Chief Executive, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan; and the Authority Chief Executive, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Rabiu Umar.

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NNPCL Boss Speaks! Winners of next Energy Era will not be those with Largest Reserves...

The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Bashir Ojulari, has called for stronger global and continental partnerships to unlock Africa’s vast energy resources and drive sustainable economic growth.

Ojulari made the call on Tuesday while delivering the keynote address at the opening of the 2026 Nigerian Oil and Gas (NOG) Energy Week in Abuja.

Speaking on the theme, “Forging Africa’s Strategic Energy Growth Through Global Collaboration,” the NNPC boss said Africa’s greatest challenge was not a lack of hydrocarbon resources or talent, but the fragmentation of the institutions needed to transform resources into prosperity.

He said no nation, company or institution could maximise the value of its energy resources in isolation.

“Collaboration has become imperative in an increasingly interconnected global energy landscape,” he said.

Reflecting on NNPC Limited’s transformation journey, Ojulari recalled that at the 2025 edition of the conference, he had emphasised rebuilding trust, restoring accountability and creating value.

According to him, the company’s commitment to performance, transparency and accountability remains unwavering.

He, however, said events over the past year had reinforced the importance of partnerships in achieving sustainable energy development.

“The defining challenge facing Africa today is not a shortage of hydrocarbons; it is not a shortage of talent, and it is not a shortage of opportunity.

“It is the persistent fragmentation of the ecosystem required to convert resources into prosperity,” Ojulari said.

He said successful energy economies depended on effective collaboration among governments, national oil companies, investors, operators, regulators, financial institutions, technology providers, research institutions and host communities.

The NNPC Limited GCEO noted that weaknesses in any part of the value chain could delay investments and stall projects, leaving resource-rich nations unable to realise their full economic potential.

Ojulari said recent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and disruptions to global shipping routes had further highlighted the importance of energy security and resilient partnerships.

According to him, the global energy system is undergoing significant changes, with evolving supply chains, shifting trade flows, rapid technological advancement and increasingly selective capital.

“The winners of the next energy era will not necessarily be those with the largest reserves.

“They will be those who can build the most effective partnerships and the most resilient ecosystems around those reserves,” he said.

Ojulari said Africa possessed about 17 per cent of global natural gas reserves, substantial oil resources, abundant renewable energy potential and a youthful population capable of driving future growth.

He, however, lamented that the continent continued to attract only a small share of global energy investment.

He called for a shift from transactional relationships to strategic partnerships, integrated value chains and industrialisation driven by Africa’s energy resources.

Speaking on Nigeria’s priorities, Ojulari advocated deeper collaboration among NNPC Limited international oil companies, indigenous operators, financial institutions, regulators, technology firms, universities and local service providers.

He also stressed the need for stable and transparent regulatory frameworks, stronger research-industry linkages and accelerated development of indigenous technical capacity.

According to him, NNPC Limited’s transformation agenda is anchored on building partnerships across the energy value chain.

He said the company’s production growth, gas monetisation, refining ambitions and energy transition plans all depended on collaboration with technical partners, financiers, researchers, infrastructure developers and technology providers.

“We increasingly view NNPC Limited not merely as an energy producer but as an ecosystem builder, connecting capital, technology, policy, talent and markets to create lasting value for Nigeria and Africa.”

Ojulari said Africa’s future would depend not only on the resources beneath its soil but on the quality of the partnerships forged across the continent and beyond.

He envisioned an Africa where energy resources drive industrialisation, gas powers homes and industries, innovation fuels economic growth and the continent emerges as a global hub for energy investment, technology and manufacturing.

“The opportunity before us is extraordinary. The responsibility is ours and the time to act is now.

“Together, through purposeful collaboration, bold leadership and shared commitment, we can reshape not only the future of Nigeria’s energy industry but the future of African prosperity itself,” he added.

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Dangote Industrial City and Deep Seaport Project: FG seeks backing of Ogun, Ondo Communities

The Federal Government has called on host communities in Ogun and Ondo states to give maximum support to the proposed Dangote Industrial City and Deep Seaport project, describing it as a transformative initiative that will create opportunities for economic growth and community development.

Representing the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, at the combined Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) site visit, Rofikat Adebukunola Odetoro commended Dangote Industries Limited for its commitment to environmental sustainability and inclusive stakeholder engagement. Speaking during the three-day assessment tour across Ode-Omi Waterside Community in Ogun State and Araromi Community in Ondo State, Odetoro expressed satisfaction with the level of community consultations and groundwork undertaken to ensure the project aligns with environmental regulations and the interests of host communities.

Odetoro, who is the Director of Assessment at the Federal Ministry of Environment, stressed the need for inclusive dialogue, urging traditional rulers and community leaders not to overlook women and children during consultations. “I urge you to factor women into every engagement. Women and children are as important as every other member of the community and they have unique needs that must not be ignored. Please give this project every support possible. It presents enormous opportunities for youths, women, and children to benefit from employment and the mandatory corporate social responsibility initiatives that will accompany it,” she said.

Speaking during the community engagement at Araromi Seaside Kingdom, Managing Director, Infrastructure and Logistics, Dangote Industries Limited, Jamil Abubakar assured the indigenes of transparency, fairness, and continuous engagement throughout the project's implementation. According to him, the President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, is committed to ensuring Africa becomes more self-sufficient through strategic infrastructure investments.

“Our President is committed to positioning Africa for greater self-sufficiency, and Araromi has been chosen as the location where one of the world's biggest deep seaports will be built. We are excited about the prospects of this project. We are here to listen to the community's concerns and work together to achieve a win-win outcome for every stakeholder involved,” he said. Abubakar further disclosed that Aliko Dangote had directed the project team to carry out a comprehensive needs assessment of the host communities and provide critical interventions regardless of the project's stage of development.

Presenting the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, Group Lead, Environment and Sustainability, Dangote Industries Limited, Adeyemi Adun, said the study was designed to establish the current environmental and socio-economic baseline of the host communities before project execution. He explained that the assessment would evaluate the quality of air, water and soil, as well as the socio-economic conditions of residents, in line with Federal Ministry of Environment guidelines.

“This phase of the project is intended to establish the current status of the community in terms of air quality, water resources, soil conditions, and socio-economic indicators, as required by the Federal Ministry of Environment. We also assure you that this project will have a positive impact on your communities, just as Dangote Industries has done in other host communities across the country”, Adun added.

Also speaking, the representative of the Ondo State Commissioner for Environment and Director of the Environmental Assessment Department, Isaac Ojo, welcomed the commencement of the assessment process, describing it as inclusive and beneficial to all stakeholders. “We are delighted that this process has begun and that it accommodates every stakeholder. We are confident the project will benefit the communities, and we encourage everyone to give the Dangote team the maximum support required for its success”, Ojo said.

The Alara of Araromi Seaside Kingdom, Oba Adeoloye Olawole, also expressed strong support for the project, describing Aliko Dangote as "a genius" whose investments would accelerate the development of the kingdom.

“We are counting on Aliko Dangote to help develop our kingdom. He is a genius, and we are ready to provide every support necessary to ensure the success of this project. We have always maintained that our community is peaceful, cooperative, and committed to progress. We want him to help develop our land as he doing all over Africa,” the monarch added.

The assessment tour brought together officials of the Federal Ministry of Environment, representatives of Ogun and Ondo State Ministries of Environment, local government officials, traditional rulers, faith-based leaders, community representatives, and officials of Dangote Industries Limited.

Stakeholders held extensive discussions on their respective roles in ensuring the successful delivery of what is projected to become Africa's largest deep seaport. Communiques were drafted and signed by stakeholders at the end of each engagement at Ode Omi and Araromi, which drew hundreds of indigenes from across the surrounding communities. Consultants have also mobilised to the project site for the ESIA sample surveys.

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