By Atoyebi Nike
The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Engr. Bayo Ojulari, has urged African nations to take full control of their energy policies and natural resources, stressing that the continent must shape its energy future according to its own realities and priorities.
Ojulari made the call at the 7th African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO) National Oil Companies CEOs Forum, according to a statement issued on Tuesday by NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh.
“Africa must take ownership of its resources and policies. Our policies should be designed by us. With our vast resource base and improved governance structures, I am confident the continent can secure its energy destiny,” Ojulari said.
He noted the decline in European fossil fuel refinery investments, many of which are projected to shut down by 2030, warning that Africa must act quickly to harness its abundant resources for the benefit of its people.
Ojulari highlighted key infrastructure projects led by NNPC, including the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline and the Nigeria–Morocco Gas Pipeline, which will extend the West African Gas Pipeline to Côte d’Ivoire in its first phase and later to Morocco.
He also credited the Petroleum Industry Act with creating an enabling environment for investors across the oil and gas value chain. On security, he disclosed that Nigeria achieved 100 per cent pipeline availability for the first time in two decades, a milestone he attributed to collaboration with host communities and security agencies.
Benchmarking against global energy giants such as Petrobras, Petronas, and Saudi Aramco, Ojulari reaffirmed NNPC’s commitment to collaboration with African peers to unlock the continent’s energy potential.
