Energy Transition Must Not Leave Africa Behind — NNPC GCEO
The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, has called for stronger alignment of infrastructure, policy, and capital across Africa to secure the continent’s energy future.
Ojulari made this known during a fireside chat with Mr. Andy Brown, Deputy Chair of Ørsted and President of the Energy Institute, at the 2026 International Energy Week (IEW) in London on Wednesday.
He identified shared infrastructure, policy harmonisation, coordinated investment frameworks, cross-border knowledge and technology exchange, integrated gas market development, and sustained regional diplomacy among National Oil Companies (NOCs) as critical pillars for achieving energy security in Africa.
Speaking on the need to expand cross-border energy infrastructure, the NNPC GCEO highlighted the company’s ongoing regional gas initiatives as practical examples of how shared assets can drive scale, efficiency, and resilience.
He stressed that accelerating flagship projects such as the Nigeria–Morocco Gas Pipeline and the expansion of the West African Gas Pipeline would significantly strengthen regional integration and promote cross-border energy trade.
Ojulari noted that Africa must work towards harmonised pricing frameworks, transit protocols, local content standards, and joint technical regulations. He pointed to Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) as a reform model capable of reducing investment friction, protecting cross-border infrastructure, and ensuring equitable access to shared energy assets.
He further advocated the creation of structured joint investment platforms among African NOCs, arguing that collective action would enable the continent to attract and deploy capital more effectively.
On NNPC Ltd’s goals to boost oil production, scale up gas output, and attract investment, Ojulari emphasised the need for a pragmatic, Africa-focused strategy that balances economic growth with climate responsibilities.
“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 said.
The International Energy Week is a leading global energy platform that brings together policymakers, industry leaders, investors, regulators, and technology innovators to shape discussions on energy security, transition strategies, capital formation, and sustainability.
The event provided an opportunity for African energy leaders to articulate the continent’s priorities within the evolving global energy landscape.
