CERAWeek 2026: Nigeria Offers Clear Value for Global Energy Capital – NNPC GCEO CERAWeek 2026

By Onwe Wisdom, Pan Afric Reporters

Nigeria has been positioned as a prime destination for global energy investment, with the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, declaring that the country’s energy fundamentals remain strong and attractive to investors.

Speaking at CERAWeek 2026 in Houston, Ojulari told a global audience of industry leaders that Nigeria’s value proposition is clear and its energy strategy firmly anchored on execution, partnerships, and realism.

“Capital goes where value is clear, and Nigeria has that value,” Ojulari said, as he outlined the country’s approach to balancing current energy demands with long-term transition goals.

Delivering his remarks during a high-level session themed “Convergence and Competition: Energy, Technology and Geopolitics,” the NNPC boss emphasized that Nigeria is not caught between present needs and future ambitions. According to him, “We are not choosing between today and tomorrow; we are funding the future with the present.”

At a fireside chat moderated by Dan Pratt, Senior Vice President, Upstream Solutions at S&P Global, Ojulari underscored Africa’s continued reliance on hydrocarbons, noting that sustained upstream production remains critical for revenue generation and foreign exchange.

He highlighted Nigeria’s vast gas reserves—over 600 trillion cubic feet as a strategic asset for both industrialisation and energy security, describing gas as more than a transition fuel.

“Nigeria is the reliable destination for energy investment the world needs,” he stated. “The country has positioned itself as a dependable supplier, riding on the established legacies of stable policies, improved energy infrastructure security, partnerships, and, lastly, the orientation of the government. The President has given NNPC the autonomy to act on its behalf and consolidate commercial solutions that are long-lasting.”

Ojulari further explained that achieving balance in the energy mix is not about equal distribution of resources but strategic prioritisation. “Balance is not about equal allocation; it is about optimal sequencing,” he said, adding that oil continues to deliver immediate value, gas drives industrial growth, while transition investments are carefully targeted.

He stressed the importance of partnerships in unlocking Nigeria’s deepwater potential, noting that international energy giants like Shell and Eni bring not just capital, but also technical expertise and execution discipline to complex projects such as OPL 245.

On regulatory reforms, the NNPC chief pointed to the impact of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in providing certainty to investors, alongside ongoing efforts to close infrastructure gaps and strengthen security frameworks.

“When the fundamentals are right, partnerships scale naturally,” he added.

Addressing Nigeria’s gas development agenda, Ojulari said the focus has shifted to disciplined execution, driven by three key enablers: commercial pricing across the value chain, critical infrastructure such as the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline, and bankable contracts that ensure investor confidence.

He explained that Nigeria is adopting a flexible approach in allocating gas resources between domestic utilisation and liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to maximise both national and commercial value.

The NNPC GCEO also highlighted a strategic transition from mere resource ownership to active resource monetisation, stressing that unlocking Nigeria’s vast undeveloped reserves will depend on strong partnerships, competitive fiscal terms, and disciplined project execution.

Deepwater exploration, he noted, remains a key priority due to its scale, resilience to onshore challenges, and attractiveness to global investors.

CERAWeek 2026 hosted by S&P Global brings together over 10,000 global energy leaders, policymakers, and executives to deliberate on the future of energy, technology, and geopolitics.