Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, has issued a strong call for enhanced collaboration across Nigeria’s energy sector, emphasizing its critical role in unlocking Africa’s vast energy potential. Speaking at the 25th NOG Energy Week in Abuja, Ojulari highlighted that robust partnerships are fundamental to driving investment, fostering industrialization, and achieving sustainable growth across the continent.
Ojulari presented a comprehensive one-year performance scorecard, detailing significant achievements. NNPC Ltd recorded an impressive average crude oil recovery rate of 98% across its five export terminals. Furthermore, Nigeria’s crude oil production surged to 1.71 million barrels per day, marking a five-year high. Gas production also saw a significant boost, reaching 7.5 billion standard cubic feet per day, partly due to the successful completion of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline and the commissioning of the ANOH Gas Processing Plant.
The company demonstrated strong financial discipline, maintaining 100% compliance with Joint Venture cash call obligations. NNPC Ltd also executed significant Gas Sale and Purchase Agreements (GSPAs) worth over US$20 billion, aimed at boosting domestic industrial gas supply and LNG feed gas. Ojulari noted the resumption of full monthly remittances to the Federation Account and the reinstatement of monthly business performance reporting, underscoring a commitment to transparency and accountability.
The NNPC CEO urged stakeholders to move beyond transactional relationships towards strategic partnerships, advocating for a shift from exporting raw resources to building competitive industrial economies. He articulated NNPC Limited’s vision as an ‘ecosystem builder,’ connecting capital, technology, policy, talent, and markets to create lasting value for Nigeria and Africa.
Ojulari identified fragmented collaboration as a primary barrier to Africa’s energy transformation, despite the continent’s abundant natural resources. He pointed out that weak linkages between resource owners and operators, investors and projects, and innovation and execution continue to constrain growth. With approximately 17% of global natural gas reserves and vast oil and renewable energy resources, Africa attracts only a small fraction of global energy investment. Ojulari called for a unified effort from governments, national oil companies, investors, regulators, financiers, academia, and service providers to position Africa as a global hub for energy investment, technology, and value creation.
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