Tinubu Unveils New 40,000CBM NNPC/Sahara LPG Vessel

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday inaugurated  the newest addition to Nigeria’s liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fleet, the 40,000 cubic meters (CBM) vessel named “MT Iyaloja (Lagos),” in Ulsan, South Korea. The vessel, owned by WAGL Energy Limited — a joint venture between NNPC Ltd. and Sahara Group — brings the company’s total LPG vessel capacity to an impressive 162,000 CBM.

At the inauguration  ceremony, President Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s growing leadership in clean energy, stating, “Nigeria is poised to deliver clean and sustainable energy solutions not just in-country but also across Africa and beyond.”

Represented by the minister of state for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, the president, commended the collaboration between NNPC Ltd. and Sahara Group through WAGL Energy Limited. “This vessel is a testament to our strategic foresight, technical excellence, and unwavering dedication to expanding Africa’s role in the global clean energy value chain,” he said.

MT Iyaloja is a dual-fuel, fully refrigerated LPG carrier that joins WAGL’s existing fleet of vessels, which includes the MT Africa Gas, MT Sahara Gas, MT BaruMK, and MT Sapet. The vessel’s commissioning significantly expands Nigeria’s LPG maritime capacity and underscores the country’s commitment to energy security and sustainability.

Group CEO of NNPC Ltd., Engr Bashir Bayo Ojulari, who was represented by the executive vice president of Gas, Power & New Energy, Olalekan Ogunleye, lauded the addition of the new vessel. “The MT Iyaloja is a great asset to our gas development program,” he remarked. “This is a crucial step toward realising the full impact of gas in Nigeria’s economic development.”

Ojulari emphasised NNPC Ltd.’s commitment to improving nationwide LPG affordability and availability: “NNPC Ltd. is proud to be a major shareholder in this indigenous company. Over the past five years, we have delivered over 6 million metric tons of LPG across West Africa through this fleet — and with the addition of MT Iyaloja, our total vessel capacity now reaches 162,000 CBM.”

Chairman and executive director of Sahara Group, Temitope Shonubi, reflected on the company’s vision, saying, “Our expansion embodies our commitment to responsibly driving efforts that bridge Africa’s critical energy infrastructure gap.

The MT Iyaloja epitomises the spirit of progress and empowerment championed by the iconic Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, whose legacy we honour.”

He added, “Sahara Group is immensely proud of its partnership with NNPC Ltd., reinforcing our shared commitment to driving energy access and affordability across Africa.”

The managing director of WAGL, Mohammed Sani Bello, underscored the company’s growth plans, stating, “We are dedicated to expanding our integrated energy supply network across the entire value chain. In the next two years, we plan to add even more vessels, including a Small Gas Carrier and a Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC).”

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was steeped in personal significance, as MT Iyaloja (Lagos) was named in honour of Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, MFR, the late mother of President Tinubu. Her granddaughter, Alhaja Folasade Mujidat Tinubu-Ojo, the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, performed the naming ceremony.

As Nigeria advances its energy ambitions with newer, larger LPG carriers, the commissioning of MT Iyaloja marks a pivotal milestone in its journey toward clean, accessible, and sustainable energy solutions for Africa and beyond.