President Bola Tinubu says Nigeria is poised to deliver clean and sustainable energy solutions not just in-country but also across Africa and beyond.
The president spoke on Monday at the commissioning ceremony of a 40,000 cubic meters (CBM) liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vessel, named “MT Iyaloja (Lagos),” in Ulsan, South Korea.
Represented by Ekperikpe Ekpo, minister of state for petroleum resources (gas), the president commended WAGL Energy Limited, Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), and Sahara Group, for their strategic foresight, technical excellence and unwavering commitment to expanding Africa’s role in the global clean energy value-chain.
In his remarks, Bayo Ojulari, chief executive officer (GCEO) of NNPC, described WAGL’s LPG vessel as a major addition to gas development efforts in Nigeria.
The GCEO, represented by Olalekan Ogunleye, executive vice-president, gas, power and new energy, added that the vessel will play a vital role in boosting the impact of gas on Nigeria’s economic growth.
Ojulari said NNPC is deepening its commitment to ensure LPG affordability, availability, and access across the country.
“NNPC Ltd. is proud to be a major shareholder in this indigenous Company which in addition to the newly commissioned MT Iyaloja (Lagos), owns four (4) other LPG vessels in its growing fleet, delivering over 6 million MT of LPG across West Africa over the last 5 years,” he added.
Also speaking, Temitope Shonubi, WAGL’s chairman and executive director, Sahara Group, noted that the company’s expansion reflects its vision of responsibly bridging the continent’s critical energy infrastructure gap.
“The addition of MT Iyaloja (Lagos) embodies the spirit of progress and empowerment championed by the iconic Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, whose legacy we honour. Sahara Group is proud of its partnership with NNPC Ltd. and reaffirms its commitment to partnerships that drive energy access in Africa,” he added.
On his part, Sani Bello, WAGL’s managing director, said the company remains committed to expanding its integrated supply network across the energy value chain.
“WAGL already has plans to further expand the fleet within the next two years with the addition of a Small Gas Carrier and a Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC),” Bello said.
The vessel, the statement noted, is owned by WAGL (an NNPC/Sahara Group joint venture), and is a dual-fuel, fully refrigerated LPG carrier.
“This latest addition brings WAGL’s total LPG vessel capacity to 162,000 CBM. Other vessels in the fleet include MT Africa Gas, MT Sahara Gas, MT BaruMK, and MT Sapet,” NNPC said.
According to the statement, the symbolic ribbon cutting of MT Iyaloja (Lagos) named in honour of Abibatu Mogaji, the late mother of Tinubu, was performed by her granddaughter, Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, the Iyaloja-general of Nigeria
