The President and Chief Executive Officer of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, on Thursday paid a high-level courtesy visit to the newly appointed Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), Bashir Bayo Ojulari, at the NNPC Towers in Abuja.
The meeting, the first formal engagement between both industry leaders since the leadership shake-up at NNPC Ltd. in April, focused on building mutually beneficial partnerships and fostering healthy, strategic competition between Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals and the national oil company. Both sides reiterated a shared commitment to advancing Nigeria’s energy security and driving long-term economic growth.
The NNPC disclosed details of the meeting via a post on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, highlighting the significance of the visit in shaping the future of the nation’s energy sector.
This engagement comes against the backdrop of recent tensions between the two entities particularly around the controversial naira-for-crude oil agreement, which had stalled under former NNPC GCEO Mele Kyari due to what insiders described as “a lack of clarity and commitment.” The arrangement has since been revived under Ojulari’s leadership, prompting a renewed supply of crude in exchange for naira and reportedly contributing to a drop in petrol pump prices to ₦915 per litre.
Another point of contention in recent months had been NNPC Ltd.’s $1 billion equity injection into the Dangote refinery during a period of liquidity constraints. The national oil company later clarified that the sum, backed by crude supply, represented just 5% of the total investment in the 650,000 barrels-per-day facility.
During the meeting, Dangote underscored the value of collaboration over competition in the quest to industrialise Nigeria and transform its energy landscape. He praised the Ojulari-led team for its professionalism and in-depth industry knowledge.
“I am very impressed by the quality and experience of the new team. I believe we can work together to achieve great things for the country,” Dangote remarked.
In response, Ojulari lauded Dangote as a visionary and a symbol of African resilience and enterprise. He commended the industrialist for his unmatched contributions to the continent’s industrial transformation and reaffirmed NNPC Ltd.’s dedication to excellence in energy delivery.
“Since assuming office, I’ve encountered an exceptional pool of talent at NNPC Ltd., and we are all committed to ensuring the company delivers top-tier value to Nigerians,” Ojulari said.
Both Dangote and Ojulari agreed to serve as direct liaisons between their organisations to ensure smooth and productive collaboration moving forward. They pledged to pursue a partnership rooted in trust, national interest, and a shared vision for Nigeria’s energy future.
