By George Ozalla
The Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, has emphasized the need for stronger regional and continental collaboration to safeguard Africa’s energy resources. Ojulari made this call at the opening of the 2025 African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit in Abuja, highlighting that energy security is central to Africa’s growth and prosperity.
According to Ojulari, strategic partnerships with security agencies have enabled Nigeria to achieve near 100 percent crude oil pipeline availability. He attributed this success to sustained collaboration with government security agencies, stating that joint action is crucial in protecting the oil and gas sector.
Africa’s energy future depends on securing infrastructure that underpins production and distribution, requiring a continental shield built on trust, partnership, and shared responsibility, Ojulari said. He urged African countries to strengthen existing alliances and develop new frameworks that allow defence institutions and national oil companies to share intelligence, technology, and best practices in protecting resources.
The summit, themed “Combating Contemporary Threats to Regional Peace and Security in Africa: The Role of Strategic Defence Collaboration,” brought together military chiefs from across the continent and key stakeholders in security and energy. Ojulari reaffirmed NNPCL’s commitment to working with Nigeria’s armed forces and intelligence services to protect Africa’s energy systems against emerging threats.
