GCEO highlights refinery partnership, gas expansion plans, and sector reforms driving energy stability……
The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Bayo Ojulari, has attributed the growing stability in Nigeria’s fuel supply to the company’s strategic collaboration with the Dangote Refinery.
Speaking during an interview with Channels Television at the global energy conference CERAWeek in Houston, Ojulari disclosed that NNPC’s 7.25% equity stake in the refinery has played a crucial role in strengthening the nation’s petroleum supply chain.
According to him, the partnership has gone beyond investment, evolving into a coordinated effort around crude supply and product distribution. This, he noted, is already translating into more consistent availability of refined products across the country.
“We’ve been working closely with the Dangote Group to improve both crude supply and distribution efficiency, and the results are evident in the relative stability Nigerians are experiencing today,” he said.
Gas Expansion Push Targets Northern Growth
Ojulari also shed light on NNPC’s aggressive push to complete the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) pipeline, a critical infrastructure project expected to transform gas access in northern Nigeria.
He explained that gas development has already sparked industrial growth in parts of the South, including Aba and Umuahia in the Southeast, as well as Lagos and Ogun in the Southwest. The next phase, he said, is to extend those benefits northward.
“We are determined to complete the AKK pipeline and unlock gas access for cities like Kano. This will support job creation, boost power supply, and drive industrialisation,” he stated, emphasizing that strengthening domestic energy security remains a top priority.
NNPC’s Global Ambition Takes Shape
Beyond infrastructure, Ojulari pointed to deeper structural reforms underway within NNPC, driven by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
He stressed that the company is undergoing a cultural and operational transformation aimed at positioning it alongside leading global energy firms such as Saudi Aramco, Petronas, and Petrobras.
“This is not just about strategy; it’s about changing how we operate at every level,” Ojulari said. “NNPC must function as a truly commercial, performance-driven organisation.”
He added that achieving this vision will require alignment across government institutions and public understanding of NNPC’s evolving role as a private-sector-led entity.
Backing Tinubu’s Transparency Drive
On policy, Ojulari expressed strong support for the recently introduced Executive Order 9, signed by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which aims to improve cost efficiency and revenue transparency in upstream petroleum operations.
While the policy has drawn criticism from groups like the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, the NNPC boss maintained that its objectives are in the best interest of the industry.
“The intention is clear, enhancing transparency across the sector,” he said. “We are actively engaging with the implementation team to ensure the details are properly aligned with that goal.”
A Sector in Transition
From refinery collaboration to gas expansion and regulatory reform, Ojulari’s remarks reflect an industry undergoing significant change. With NNPC repositioning itself and major projects gaining momentum, Nigeria appears to be entering a new phase aimed at long-term energy security and economic resilience.
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