NNPCL GCEO Pledges Oil Exploration in the North, Completion of AKK Project

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bashir Bayo Ojulari, has reaffirmed the company’s commitment to oil exploration in northern Nigeria and the timely completion of the Ajaokuta Kaduna Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project.

In an interview with BBC Hausa, Ojulari stated that his leadership will prioritize projects that stimulate regional development and national economic growth.

“We will not stop drilling in the North,” he declared, assuring that the AKK project, a major infrastructure initiative aimed at boosting domestic gas utilization and industrialization, will be completed under his watch.

Ojulari, who took over as GCEO earlier this year, shared personal reflections to reinforce his connection with the region.

“I am a northern boy. I grew up in Kaduna and only started learning Yoruba when I was 15,” he said. He also disclosed that he studied in Zaria, one of the region’s major academic and cultural centers.

Appealing directly to northerners, Ojulari called for their support and prayers.

“This job is not something one person can do alone. I need everyone to support me so we can bring development, not just to the North, but to Nigeria as a whole,” he emphasized.

The NNPCL boss also addressed recent reports of friction between the company and the Dangote Group. “Going forward, you will not hear about Dangote and NNPCL fighting in the newspapers,” he said, suggesting a more cooperative relationship between the state-owned oil firm and the private sector giant.

Ojulari’s remarks come at a time when NNPCL is under pressure to boost energy infrastructure, improve transparency, and drive investments in underdeveloped regions of the country.

His outreach to northern stakeholders signals a strategic effort to foster unity and local support for the company’s ongoing projects.