The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), Mr. Mele Kyari, has advocated for increased collaboration between academia and the Oil & Gas Industry to tackle the challenges of energy sufficiency and sustainability.

Kyari made this plea while serving as a Guest Lecturer during the 2024 Faculty Lecture titled, “Energy Security, Sustainability and Profitability in Nigeria: Advances, Challenges and Opportunities,” organized by the Faculty of Science at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Wednesday.

In his lecture, Kyari emphasized the crucial role played by academic institutions, such as the esteemed OAU, in upholding national energy security through research and partnerships with the industry.

Identifying challenges affecting energy security in Nigeria, including rapid population growth, pipeline vandalism, and crude oil theft, Kyari proposed energy conservation, diversification, and efficiency measures as key approaches to bolstering energy security.

Addressing the forecasted rapid population growth, Kyari stressed the importance of finding sustainable solutions to ensure energy security for both present and future generations. He also highlighted the heightened competition for essential resources and urbanization, which is expected to double Nigeria’s energy demand by 2050.

Regarding challenges posed by pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft, Kyari acknowledged the impact on NNPC Ltd.’s operations. He noted the establishment of a command-and-control center, which has facilitated the detection and destruction of illegal refinery sites and removal of illegal connections, effectively addressing vandalism across operating corridors since 2021.

“The centre provides livestreaming of surveillance data to security forces, contributing to the detection and destruction of over 5,686 Illegal Refinery (IR) sites and the removal of 4,480 Illegal Connections (ICs) from 2021 to the present,” added the GCEO.

Recognizing the severity of vandalism and oil theft, Kyari hinted at a strategic shift, focusing on increased products trucking and storage in underground tankages at NNPC filling stations nationwide.

He highlighted NNPC Ltd.’s expanded retail assets, positioning it as the largest single downstream company in sub-Saharan Africa following the acquisition of OVH retail stations and associated downstream infrastructure in 2021.

Underlining NNPC Ltd.’s transformation into a fully commercial limited liability energy company after the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act in 2021, Kyari mentioned that the removal of fuel subsidies has allowed the Company to assume a more active commercial role, ensuring profitability and delivering greater value to Nigeria’s growing population.