The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has called for pragmatic global partnerships and sustained investment to eradicate energy poverty across Africa.
Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, made the call during the Energy Talk session at the ongoing Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC 2025) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Speaking with Pulitzer Prize-winning energy author Daniel Yergin, Ojulari said Nigeria remains central to Africa’s energy transformation and that NNPC Ltd serves as the linchpin for achieving energy sufficiency on the continent.
“Africa’s energy future must be built on pragmatism, partnerships, and purpose,” Ojulari stated. “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, monetize gas, deepen partnerships, and deliver value to Nigerians and global partners alike.”
Ojulari noted that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigeria is transitioning from an extractive economy to a diversified, investment-driven energy hub.
He revealed that NNPC Ltd has raised crude oil production to 1.7 million barrels per day, with targets of 2 million by 2027 and 3 million in the long term, achieved through renewed collaboration with international oil companies and independents.
Reaffirming the company’s commitment to regional and global cooperation, Ojulari said NNPC aims to attract $30–$60 billion in new investment by 2030 through partnerships with OPEC peers, African national oil companies, and global financiers. He added that new government incentives beyond the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) are already drawing capital into deep-water exploration, gas development, and cost reduction initiatives.
Highlighting Nigeria’s flagship energy projects, the GCEO mentioned the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) and Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) gas pipelines, alongside the Presidential CNG Initiative and expansion of autogas corridors, as key steps toward a cleaner, more inclusive energy mix.
Ojulari’s message echoed that of Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and ADNOC CEO, who opened the conference with a call for “pragmatic, not performative” energy policies and global investment of up to $4 trillion annually to meet future demand.
“Nigeria is open for business,” Ojulari affirmed. “NNPC Limited is fit for the future, and we invite the world to co-invest in Africa’s energy transformation.”
NNPC’s participation at ADIPEC 2025 reinforces its evolution into a commercially driven, globally engaged energy company — one that is not only powering Nigeria but helping shape the continent’s energy future.
ADIPEC, hosted by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), is one of the world’s largest energy conferences. The 41st edition of the event is themed “Energy. Intelligence. Impact.”
