The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, has called for stronger collaboration among African National Oil Companies (NOCs), identifying shared infrastructure and coordinated policies as critical pillars for securing the continent’s energy future.
Ojulari made the remarks on Wednesday 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.
The engagement formed part of high-level discussions on global energy security, transition pathways and sustainable investment.
According to a statement posted on NNPC Ltd’s official X page, Ojulari emphasised that Africa must deepen regional cooperation to unlock scale, efficiency and resilience across its energy systems.
He pointed to shared infrastructure, policy alignment, coordinated investment frameworks, cross-border knowledge and technology exchange, integrated gas market development, and sustained regional diplomacy as essential building blocks for long-term energy stability.
Expanding on cross-border energy infrastructure, the NNPC chief highlighted ongoing regional gas initiatives, including the Nigeria–Morocco Gas Pipeline and the expansion of the West African Gas Pipeline.
He described the projects as transformative platforms capable of strengthening regional integration and boosting intra-African energy trade.
Ojulari stressed that harmonised pricing frameworks, transit protocols, local content standards and joint technical regulations are necessary to reduce investment friction and protect shared energy assets.
He cited Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) as an example of reform that could offer lessons for broader continental alignment.
Beyond policy coordination, he advocated for structured joint investment platforms among African NOCs, arguing that collective action would enhance the continent’s ability to attract and deploy capital efficiently.
“Africa can attract and deploy capital more effectively when acting collectively rather than individually,” he said.
Addressing NNPC Ltd’s domestic ambitions to raise oil output, expand gas production and attract investment, Ojulari underscored the need for a pragmatic, Africa-centric strategy that balances economic development with climate responsibility.
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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 affirmed.
The International Energy Week is regarded as a premier global energy leadership platform, convening policymakers, investors, regulators and industry executives to shape discussions on energy security, sustainability and capital formation.
Ojulari’s remarks come at a time when African nations are increasingly seeking to position gas as a transition fuel—capable of powering industrial growth while supporting global decarbonisation goals—amid evolving geopolitical and market dynamics.