… as NNPC, Sahara group JV expands fleet capacity beyond 160,000m³

Oredola Adeola

President Bola Tinubu has commissioned MT Iyaloja (Lagos), a 40,000-cubic-metre Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) vessel built in Ulsan, South Korea, expanding WAGL Energy Limited’s fleet capacity to over 160,000 cubic metres; the company is a joint venture between NNPC Limited and Sahara Group.

The vessel, named in honour of Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, the late mother of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was described by the President as a symbol of Nigeria’s commitment to providing clean and sustainable energy solutions both domestically and across Africa.

President Tinubu, at the commissioning held on Monday, was represented by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo.

The President commended the joint venture of NNPC Limited and Sahara Group for their strategic foresight, technical excellence, and unwavering dedication to expanding Africa’s role in the global clean energy value chain.

Advisors Reports gathered that the MT Iyaloja vessel is a dual-fuel, fully refrigerated LPG carrier, which, if added to other vessels in the fleet, including MT Africa Gas, 38,000m³ (cubic meters), MT Sahara Gas,  38,100m³, MT BaruMK 22,000m³, and MT Sapet 23,800m³, brings WAGL’s total LPG vessel capacity to 162,000 CBM.

WAGL Energy Limited is driving Africa’s access to reliable and clean energy through sustainable LPG supply, extending its impact across the continent and beyond.

Engr. Bashir Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPC Ltd., in his remarks, described WAGL’s LPG Vessel as a great addition to gas development efforts in Nigeria.

The GCEO, who was represented by Mr. Olalekan Ogunleye, Executive Vice President, Gas, Power & New Energy, added that the vessel will be crucial in realising the impact of gas in Nigeria’s economic development.

According to him, NNPC Ltd. is deepening its commitment to ensure LPG affordability, availability, and access, nationwide.

“NNPC Ltd. is proud to be a major shareholder in this indigenous Company, which in addition to the newly commissioned MT Iyaloja (Lagos), owns four (4) other LPG vessels in its growing fleet, delivering over 6 million MT of LPG across West Africa over the last 5 years,” he added.

Mr. Temitope Shonubi, WAGL’s Chairman/Executive Director at Sahara Group, also speaking, noted that the company’s expansion demonstrates its vision of responsibly driving efforts aimed at bridging the continent’s critical energy infrastructure gap.”

“The addition of MT Iyaloja (Lagos) embodies the spirit of progress and empowerment championed by the iconic Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, whose legacy we honour.

Sahara Group is proud of its partnership with NNPC Ltd. and reaffirms its commitment to partnerships that drive energy access in Africa,” he added.

Mr. Mohammed Bello, WAGL’s Managing Director, stressed that the company is dedicated to expanding its integrated supply network across the entire energy value chain.

“WAGL already has plans to further expand the fleet within the next two years with the addition of a Small Gas Carrier and a Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC),” he added.

Advisors Reports further gathered that the symbolic ribbon cutting of MT Iyaloja (Lagos), named in honour of the late mother of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was performed by her granddaughter, the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Alhaja Folasade Mujidat Tinubu-Ojo.