NIES: Over 600 million Africans lack access to electricity — Ojulari

The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, has revealed that more than 600 million Africans are still without access to electricity, as the continent continues to struggle with challenges of accessibility, affordability, and sustainability—an issue he described as Africa’s energy trilemma.

Ojulari made this disclosure during his address at the opening ceremony of the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) 2026, held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He said that as an emerging global energy powerhouse, Nigeria bears a significant responsibility to harness its abundant gas resources to drive Africa’s development and contribute meaningfully to global stability.
According to him, Nigeria’s path to a prosperous future lies in the country’s collective ability to leverage its resource endowment, particularly gas, which he described as central to the nation’s energy strategy.
“Gas is our bridge to a cleaner future, our engine for industrialisation, and the foundation for export-led growth,” Ojulari stated.
He further noted that with proven reserves of 37 billion barrels of crude oil and 209 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, Nigeria and NNPC Ltd are well-positioned to lead efforts aimed at changing Africa’s energy narrative.
“With over 600 million Africans still lacking electricity, the continent’s energy priority cannot be a copy-and-paste approach. It must be a just, equitable, and people-centred energy transition—one that lifts our people out of poverty, powers industries, supports agriculture, transforms transportation, and unlocks the creativity of Africa’s youth,” he said.
Ojulari added that NNPC Ltd is not only a commercial entity but also an enabler of peace and prosperity across the continent.
On measures being implemented to expand access to gas as the primary fuel for industrialisation and economic growth, the NNPC GCEO disclosed that the company has launched a new Gas Masterplan. He also said NNPC Ltd is aggressively advancing key gas infrastructure projects, including the Obiafu–Obrikom–Oben (OB3) pipeline, the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) gas pipeline, and the expansion of the Escravos–Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS).
“These projects are more than pipelines; they are highways for economic opportunity,” he explained.