By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.
At the 24th edition of the Nigerian Oil and Gas (NOG) Energy Week, held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja, on Tuesday, 1st July 2025, key stakeholders, policymakers, and industry leaders applauded ongoing energy reforms in Nigeria, particularly under the leadership of Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari is the newly appointed Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
In his first public address since his appointment, Ojulari reaffirmed NNPCL’s central role in driving Nigeria’s energy transition. Delivering the keynote speech at the conference, he emphasized the company’s commitment to transparency, commercial efficiency, and delivering value to stakeholders.
“This year’s theme, Accelerating Global Energy Progress Through Investment, Partnership, and Innovation, is both timely and urgent,” Ojulari said. “It calls on us to reflect on our shared responsibilities to collaborate and act boldly in this era of rapid energy transformation,” the NNPCL boss stated.
The NNPCL, he said, has fully transitioned into a commercially oriented entity under the Petroleum Industry Act, with a renewed focus on performance and national development. He outlined three core pillars guiding the company’s strategy: ensuring energy security, enabling economic growth, and creating long-term value for the nation.
Highlighting achievements under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, Ojulari revealed that the energy sector attracted \$17 billion in investments in 2024 alone, with targets set at \$30 billion by 2027 and \$60 billion by 2030. These investments, he noted, support national goals to sustainably raise oil production to two million barrels per day by 2027 and three million by 2030.
Africa Energy Bank Set for Launch
Also speaking at the event, the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, PhD, announced Nigeria’s readiness for the operational launch of the Africa Energy Bank. According to the Minister, the country has met all legal and financial obligations necessary for the bank’s takeoff.
He praised the current NNPCL leadership for restoring international confidence in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
“What this team cannot do, no other team can do,” Lokpobiri remarked, urging service companies and investors to return to Nigeria, which he affirmed is “open for business.”
He stressed the importance of sustainable capacity building and warned that the time for dormancy in the industry is over.
Industry Leaders Commend Government Reforms
Abdulrazaq Isa, Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG), praised the reforms implemented since the Tinubu administration took office in 2023.
“On the eve of the new administration, the industry submitted a wish list. Today, we can confidently say that most of those requests have been delivered,” Isa noted. “This is a testament to the administration’s willingness to engage, listen, and act,” the IPPG Chairman said.
Isa further commended appointing competent and technically skilled professionals to lead the NNPCL, calling the reforms “unprecedented.”
In a virtual address, OPEC Secretary General H.E. Haitham Al Ghais supported the conference theme and warned of growing global energy demands. He projected that the world population would rise to 10 billion by 2050, with over 2 billion moving into cities—highlighting the urgent need to bridge energy gaps.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Christopher Hudson, President of dmg events (organizers of NOG Energy Week), encouraged stakeholders to remain resilient and collaborative.
“Let’s make energy great again,” Hudson urged, addressing over 7,000 delegates in attendance.
Triumph Power and Gas Systems Reaffirms Commitment to Energy Sector Growth
Triumph Power and Gas Systems Limited, one of the key sponsors of the ongoing NOG Energy Week, has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing Nigeria’s oil and gas production capacity. Speaking to Standard Times Nigeria during the conference, the company’s Managing Director, Mr. Bolaji Ososami, highlighted Triumph’s ongoing investment in infrastructure, manpower, and equipment to support national production goals, including the federal mandate to achieve 2.5 million barrels per day.
“NOG Energy Week: A Flagship Platform for Growth,” Triumph Power’s MD stated.
Describing the significance of NOG Energy Week, Mr. Bolaji Ososami said the event has become the premier gathering for stakeholders in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
“NOG Energy Week is the flagship of oil and gas conferences in Nigeria. You’ll find both key local and international players here. With recognition by NNPCL, it serves as a major business platform. You can see the scale of participation—it’s probably the biggest exhibition in Nigeria’s oil and gas space,” he said.
Responding to the Call for Increased Production
In response to the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources’ call to ramp up crude oil production to 2.5 million barrels per day, Triumph Power’s Managing Director, Bolaji Ososami, said the company had already taken proactive steps to scale up its capabilities.
“Our business is about enhancing the production systems of our customers. Once we got wind of the federal mandate to increase output, we invested heavily—more people, more resources, more equipment—to support our clients in keeping their operations efficient and productive,” Ososami explained.
Expanding Local Capacity and Building for the Future
Triumph Power, an indigenous company with 16 years in business, operates from its workshop facility in Port Harcourt, focusing on operations, maintenance, and power generation systems.
“We are hands-on. Our field engineers go directly to client sites to ensure maximum reliability and uptime of the equipment we support. This is how we contribute to improved production and better energy delivery across the country,” Bolaji added.
He also praised the government’s recent executive order, noting that it has attracted significant investment, including a projected \$15 billion into the energy value chain. According to him, this will lead to more jobs, more businesses, and national economic growth.
“We’re expanding our workshops to reduce reliance on overseas facilities in Dubai and Germany for equipment overhaul. We want more of this work done here in Nigeria to build local capacity and increase content,” he said.
“Making Energy Great Again” and the AKK Pipeline Breakthrough
Speaking on the broader theme of “making energy great again,” Ogundare celebrated the progress of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline, which has successfully crossed the River Niger.
“This is a milestone. With gas now reaching the North, we can begin building power stations across the country. More energy means more power, and more power means improved quality of life for Nigerians,” he noted.
Telmek Energy Highlights Innovative Solutions
Also speaking on Day 2 of the NOG Energy Week was Engr. Kazeem Opejin, Chief Technical Officer of Telmek Energy Solutions. He emphasized the company’s commitment to bridging the energy gap through engineering, procurement, and operations services.
“We’re proud to be part of NOG Energy Week, showcasing how we’ve improved gas utilization. Our technology captures flared gas for reuse in power generation, helping reduce waste and emissions,” he said.
Telmek, active in the industry for eight years, has worked with major companies like Chevron and Shell. The company also invests in capacity building, including initiatives focused on empowering women in the energy sector.
As Day 2 of the conference concluded, a strong consensus emerged: Nigeria’s energy sector is undergoing a transformative shift—driven by bold reforms, strategic investments, and renewed confidence from both domestic and international players.