- Reaffirms Nigeria’s commitment to clean energy expansion
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to advancing clean and sustainable energy solutions across Africa and beyond.
The President made this known at the commissioning of a 40,000 cubic meter Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) carrier, MT Iyaloja (Lagos), in Ulsan, South Korea. The vessel, owned by WAGL Energy Limited — a joint venture between NNPC Limited and Sahara Group — is a dual-fuel, fully refrigerated LPG carrier that expands WAGL’s fleet capacity to 162,000 CBM.
Represented by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, President Tinubu commended WAGL, NNPC Ltd., and Sahara Group for their strategic foresight and contribution to Africa’s growing role in the global clean energy value chain.
NNPC Ltd. Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, represented by the Executive Vice President, Gas, Power & New Energy, Mr. Olalekan Ogunleye, described the vessel as a major boost to Nigeria’s gas sector, stressing that it will help deepen LPG affordability and availability nationwide.
WAGL Chairman and Sahara Group Executive Director, Mr. Temitope Shonubi, highlighted that the vessel reflects the company’s drive to bridge Africa’s energy infrastructure gap. He added that the MT Iyaloja (Lagos) pays tribute to the late Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, mother of President Tinubu, whose legacy of empowerment inspired the vessel’s name.
WAGL Managing Director, Mr. Mohammed Sani Bello, disclosed that the company plans to further expand its fleet within two years with the addition of a Small Gas Carrier and a Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC).
The commissioning ceremony featured a symbolic ribbon cutting performed by Alhaja Folasade Mujidat Tinubu-Ojo, the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria and granddaughter of the late Alhaja Mogaji.
