The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Bayo Ojulari, says the company is engaging partners with proven expertise in refining and petrochemical operations to deliver sustainable, self-financing, and profitable solutions for Nigeria’s refineries.
Ojulari disclosed this on Wednesday while responding to questions during a fireside chat themed “Securing Nigeria’s Energy Future at NIES 2026” at the ongoing Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) 2026 in Abuja.
He noted that past efforts to revive Nigeria’s refineries were largely centred on financing and Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) delivery, stressing that the focus has now shifted to establishing the right operating model to ensure long-term sustainability.
According to him, three critical elements are required to get refineries operational: financing, a competent EPC contractor, and world-class operational capacity.
“That is exactly our focus at the moment,” Ojulari said.
“Getting refineries up and running requires three critical elements: financing, a competent EPC contractor, and world-class operational capacity. That is exactly our focus at the moment,” he noted.
The NNPC Ltd boss added that the company is now better positioned for commercial viability and sustained profitability, driven by an ongoing
transformation agenda aimed at securing Nigeria’s energy future.
On recent improvements in crude oil production, Ojulari attributed the reduction in oil theft and increased pipeline availability to strengthened collaboration with upstream operators. He explained that renewed engagement and trust between NNPC Ltd and its partners have boosted investor confidence, improved commercial outcomes, and enhanced productivity.
“When the current leadership of NNPC Ltd was appointed, we initiated a fundamentally different engagement model with our partners which focused on improving systems and processes for win-win outcomes in production acceleration and contracting,” Ojulari said.
Ojulari also credited the Federal Government’s decisive intervention in addressing security challenges in the Niger Delta, including the deployment of a structured surveillance framework, AI-enabled solutions, and security personnel.
He said the measures have helped stabilise operations, ensure production consistency, and deepen collaboration with host communities through targeted Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.
Speaking on the recently launched NNPC Ltd Gas Master Plan 2026, Ojulari said the company is focused on delivering in-country value through gas utilisation initiatives, describing the plan as a customer-driven strategy designed to stimulate market growth and shared prosperity.
This plan, he says, aligns with the federal government’s Decade of Gas Initiative, which positions gas as a key driver of economic growth, industrialisation, and energy transition.
He further commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the unprecedented inclusion of industry experts on the NNPC Ltd Board and Senior Management Team, describing it as a strategic move that strengthens commercial discipline and global competitiveness.
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