The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, has identified shared infrastructure, policy alignment, coordinated investment frameworks, and cross-border collaboration among African National Oil Companies (NOCs) as critical pillars for securing Africa’s energy future.
Ojulari made the remarks during a fireside chat at the International Energy Week 2026 in London, according to a press statement issued on Wednesday by Mr. Andy Odeh, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Limited.
The session featured discussions with Mr. Andy Brown, Deputy Chair of Ørsted and President of the Energy Institute, focusing on Africa’s pathway to energy security and sustainable growth.
Expanding Regional Infrastructure
Ojulari stressed the imperative of expanding cross-border energy infrastructure across Africa, noting that NNPC Limited’s ongoing regional gas initiatives demonstrate how shared assets can unlock scale, efficiency, and resilience.
He highlighted flagship projects such as the Nigeria–Morocco Gas Pipeline and the expansion of the West African Gas Pipeline as vital to strengthening regional integration and advancing cross-border energy trade.
According to the statement, Ojulari described these initiatives as strategic levers for deepening economic integration and boosting industrialisation across the continent.
Harmonising Policies to Attract Investment
The NNPC GCEO also called for aligned pricing frameworks, harmonised transit protocols, local content standards, and joint technical regulations across African markets.
Drawing lessons from Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act, he said regulatory clarity and consistency are essential to reducing investment friction, safeguarding cross-border infrastructure, and ensuring equitable access to shared energy assets.
The statement noted that such reforms are crucial to creating a predictable investment climate capable of attracting long-term capital into Africa’s energy sector.
Collective Capital Mobilisation
Ojulari further advocated structured joint investment platforms among African NOCs, stressing that acting collectively would enhance the continent’s ability to mobilise and deploy capital efficiently.
“Africa can attract and deploy capital more effectively when acting collectively rather than individually,” he was quoted as saying in the statement.
Balancing Growth with Climate Commitments
On NNPC Limited’s ambition to grow oil production, scale gas output, and attract investment, Ojulari emphasised the need for a pragmatic, Africa-centric strategy that positions energy as both a driver of economic development and a contributor to global climate goals.
“Our pathway is clear: grow production responsibly, scale gas as the backbone of Africa’s industrialisation, strengthen environmental accountability, and align with global decarbonisation objectives—while ensuring that Africans are not left behind in the energy transition,” he stated.
International Energy Week is a leading global platform that brings together policymakers, industry executives, investors, regulators, and technology innovators to shape dialogue on energy security, transition pathways, capital formation, and sustainability.
The statement reaffirmed NNPC Limited’s commitment to regional cooperation, integrated gas market development, and sustained diplomacy among African NOCs to secure the continent’s energy future.
