… says Africa must align infrastructure, policy, capital to achieve energy security – Ojulari
Oredola Adeola
Engr. Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd has called for an Africa-centric energy strategy and structured joint investment platforms among African national oil companies (NOCs) to position energy as a driver of economic growth while supporting global climate goals.
According to him, Africa can attract and deploy capital more effectively when acting collectively rather than individually.
Ojulari disclosed this 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.
To achieve this, the NNPC Ltd’s GCEO identified shared infrastructure, policy alignment, coordinated investment frameworks, cross-border knowledge and technology exchange, integrated gas market development, and sustained regional diplomacy among National Oil Companies (NOCs) as key pillars for securing Africa’s energy future.
Addressing the imperative of expanding cross-border energy infrastructure, Ojulari said NNPC Ltd’s ongoing regional gas initiatives demonstrate how shared assets can unlock scale, efficiency, and resilience.
He emphasised that accelerated delivery of flagship projects such as the Nigeria–Morocco Gas Pipeline and the expansion of the West African Gas Pipeline is critical to strengthening regional integration and advancing cross-border energy trade.
According to him, the continent must move towards aligned pricing frameworks, transit protocols, local content standards, and joint technical regulations, drawing lessons from reforms such as Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), to reduce investment friction, safeguard cross-border infrastructure, and ensure equitable access to shared energy assets.
He further called for structured joint investment platforms among African NOCs, stressing that Africa can attract and deploy capital more effectively when acting collectively rather than individually.
On NNPC Ltd’s ambition to raise oil output, expand gas production, and attract investment, Ojulari said delivery will require a pragmatic, Africa-centric strategy—one that positions energy as both a catalyst for 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 affirmed.
The International Energy Week (IEW) is a premier global energy leadership platform that convenes policymakers, industry executives, investors, regulators, technology innovators, and thought leaders to shape dialogue on the future of energy security, transition pathways, capital formation, and sustainability.
