Tinubu Commissions WAGL 40,000 CBM LPG Carrier, Expands Nigeria’s Clean Energy Drive

President Tinubu has inaugurated MT Iyaloja, a 40,000 CBM LPG carrier, boosting Nigeria’s gas sector.

The vessel, named after his late mother, strengthens clean energy supply across West Africa.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has inaugurated the new 40,000 cubic metre Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) carrier of West Africa Gas Limited (WAGL), further advancing Nigeria’s commitment to enhancing its clean energy infrastructure.

The vessel, named MT Iyaloja (Lagos) in memory of Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, the late mother of the President, was commissioned on Monday. The event was announced by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) through its official X handle.

Representing the President at the ceremony, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo praised WAGL, NNPC Ltd., and Sahara Group for their foresight and dedication to enhancing Africa’s energy value chain. He described the project as a milestone in efforts to boost clean and sustainable energy across the continent.

Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., represented by Mr. Olalekan Ogunleye, the Executive Vice President of Gas, Power & New Energy, emphasized the significant contribution of the vessel to the advancement of Nigeria’s gas industry. He noted that NNPC is committed to ensuring the affordability, availability, and accessibility of LPG nationwide, stressing that gas remains central to Nigeria’s economic diversification plans.

Ojulari also revealed that the WAGL fleet has delivered over six million metric tonnes of LPG across West Africa in the past five years. The commissioning of MT Iyaloja increases the company’s city to 162,000 CBM, further solidifying Nigeria’s regional gas supply.

Speaking at the event, WAGL Chairman and Sahara Group Executive Director Mr. Temitope Shonubi said the expansion reflects the company’s commitment to bridging Africa’s energy gap. He described the new vessel as a symbol of progress, empowerment, and commitment to energy access.

Mr. Mohammed Sani Bello, the sector head at WAGL, announced that the company intends to expand its fleet over the next two years by incorporating a Small Gas Carrier and a Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC). This move aims to enhance its integrated supply chain throughout the continent.

The ceremony also featured the symbolic ribbon-cutting by the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Alhaja Folasade Mujidat Tinubu-Ojo, who honored her grandmother at the event.

This commissioning follows WAGL earlier announcement of a significant fleet expansion exceeding 160,000 CBM capacity and builds on the company’s maintenance agreement with NNPC’s downstream, the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC), for operations at the Escravos Crude Oil Terminal