Nigeria positions itself as anchor for Africa’s energy security – Ojulari

NIGERIA is moving to the centre of Africa’s energy security conversation, as the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, called for a continent-wide alignment of infrastructure, policy and capital, placing Nigeria as a strategic driver of regional energy integration.

Mr Ojulari made this known at the 2026 International Energy Week (IEW) in London during a fireside discussion with Deputy Chair of Ørsted and President of the Energy Institute, Mr Andy Brown. His remarks reflect Nigeria’s ambition to shift from being only a crude oil producer to becoming a regional gas hub and investment gateway for Africa’s energy transition, according to a statement released by Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the NNPC, Mr Andy Odey, on Thursday.

He said Nigeria’s experience shows that energy security cannot be achieved through isolated national projects. Instead, countries must build interconnected systems that allow energy to flow across borders, reduce supply risks and create larger, more competitive markets. According to him, Nigeria’s infrastructure drive is already demonstrating how shared assets can unlock scale, resilience and efficiency.

At the centre of this vision is gas, which Ojulari described as Nigeria’s strongest tool for industrial growth and regional leadership. With Africa holding some of the world’s largest untapped gas reserves, he said Nigeria is well-positioned to supply both domestic industries and neighbouring countries, while also supporting the continent’s transition to cleaner fuels.

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He pointed to two major cross-border projects being driven by Nigeria: the Nigeria – Morocco Gas Pipeline and the West African Gas Pipeline expansion – as clear examples of how the country is laying the foundation for a regional gas economy. These projects, he said, will deepen energy trade across West and North Africa, improve power generation reliability and stimulate industrial development along their routes.

According to Mr Ojulari, Nigeria is using these projects not only to grow its own economy but also to strengthen regional cooperation. By linking markets and supply chains, the pipelines are expected to lower costs, attract new investment and create jobs across multiple countries, while positioning Nigeria as a central transit and supply hub.

However, he warned that infrastructure alone is not enough. He said inconsistent policies, regulatory bottlenecks and unclear commercial terms continue to discourage investors across Africa. To solve this, Mr Ojulari called for harmonised pricing systems, transit agreements, technical standards and local content rules across borders.

Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), he noted, provides a working example of how reforms can improve transparency, reduce uncertainty and restore investor confidence. He said the lessons from Nigeria’s regulatory overhaul should guide broader regional policy coordination, ensuring that cross-border assets are protected and fairly managed.

Mr Ojulari also urged African National Oil Companies (NOCs) to adopt joint investment structures rather than competing individually for limited global capital, noting that Nigeria supports the creation of shared financing platforms that can pool resources, de-risk projects and attract large-scale funding from international partners.

On NNPC Ltd’s corporate strategy, Mr Ojulari said the company is committed to growing oil production, expanding gas output and drawing private investment, while maintaining environmental responsibility. He explained that Nigeria’s energy future must balance economic growth with climate obligations.

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“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.

He added that Nigeria’s role is not just to supply energy, but to shape the continent’s transition strategy in a way that supports development, job creation and energy access.

International Energy Week is a leading global platform where policymakers, investors, industry leaders and technology innovators discuss the future of energy security and sustainability.