The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, Bayo Ojulari, stated that as an emerging global energy powerhouse, Nigeria has a responsibility to harness its vast gas resources to drive Africa’s development and support global stability.
According to NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, Ojulari made this remark while delivering the opening address at the Nigeria International Energy Summit 2026, held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Ojulari emphasized that Nigeria’s abundant gas reserves represent a key pathway to the nation’s prosperous future.
The NNPC boss emphasized that Africa must prioritize equitable, people-centered energy solutions for the more than 600 million people who still lack access to electricity.
Ojulari said, “Nigeria’s pathway to a prosperous future lies in our collective ability to leverage our resource abundance, especially as 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 described what he termed Africa’s “energy trilemma,” highlighting that despite the continent’s abundant energy resources, it still struggles with accessibility, affordability, and sustainability, leaving over 600 million Africans without electricity.
He stressed that with 37 billion barrels of crude oil and 209 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves, Nigeria and NNPC Ltd are ready to take the lead in transforming this energy landscape.
“With over 600 million Africans still lacking electricity, the continent’s priority cannot be a copy and paste. Ours must be a just, equitable, people-centred energy additions, one that lifts our people out of poverty, powers industries, supports agriculture, transforms transportation, and unleashes the creativity of Africa’s youth”, he stated.
Ojulari added that NNPC Ltd is not merely a commercial enterprise but also a catalyst for peace and prosperity.
He highlighted the rapid advancement of strategic gas projects—including the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3), Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipelines, and the expansion of the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS)—as key initiatives to increase gas access, positioning it as a primary driver of industrialization and economic growth.
