Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, has emphasized that Nigeria’s path to prosperity depends on effectively harnessing its vast gas resources. He highlighted gas as the country’s bridge to a cleaner energy future and a cornerstone for export-driven growth.
Ojulari described Nigeria as an emerging global energy powerhouse, capable of driving Africa’s development while playing a significant role in ensuring global energy stability.
He made these remarks during his address at the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) 2026, held on Tuesday at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Describing what he termed Africa’s energy trilemma, Ojulari said that though the African continent is endowed with vast energy resources, it still grapples with issues of accessibility, affordability, and sustainability, with over 600 million Africans living without access to electricity.
He said with 37 billion barrels of crude oil and 209 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves, Nigeria and the NNPC Ltd are ready to lead the charge in changing the narrative.
“Nigeria’s pathway to a prosperous future lies in our collective ability to leverage our resource abundance, especially as gas sits at the heart of our strategy. It is our bridge to a cleaner future, our engine for industrialization, and our foundation for export-led growth”, Ojulari stated.
“With over 600 million Africans still lacking electricity, the continent’s priority cannot be a copy and paste. Ours must be a just, equitable, people-centered energy additions, one that lifts our people out of poverty, powers industries, supports agriculture, transforms transportation, and unleashes the creativity of Africa’s youth”, he stated
On efforts to boost access to gas as the main fuel for industrialization and economic growth, the GCEO stated that NNPC Ltd has unveiled a new Gas Masterplan and is actively advancing key gas infrastructure projects, including the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3), Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipelines, and the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) expansion.
“These projects are more than pipelines; they are highways for economic opportunity,” he explained.
