Nigeria reaffirms partnership interests with UAE

The group chief executive officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, has paid a visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Saeed Al Shamsi, at the UAE Embassy

The meeting in Abuja was a success as it build upon the existing strong bilateral energy ties between Nigeria and the UAE. The delegates discussed on several topics, ranging from upstream oil and gas investment opportunities, gas development and monetisation to crude oil trading and infrastructure financing. Both parties reaffirmed the sustained relations between the two nations, rooted in mutual respect and a shared commitment to long-term energy cooperation.

Ojulari reemphasised NNPC's role as a commercially driven entity, focused on advancing a solid portfolio of bankable projects across the entire energy value chain. He stressed that the company is welcoming of value-based partnerships with UAE institutions, such as Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), and National Petroleum Construction Company (NPCC).

The visit reinforces on previously expressed commitments between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and President Mohammed Bin Zayed, as both countries are prioritising the translation of intent into concrete, mutually beneficial project outcomes. 

While strengthening its domestic capabilities, Nigeria is looking to build strong global partnerships as well to facilitate its holistic development. During the 2026 International Energy Week (IEW) in London, Ojulari had highlighted the importance of shared infrastructure, policy alignment, coordinated investment frameworks, cross-border knowledge and technology exchange, integrated gas market development, and sustained regional diplomacy among national oil companies (NOCs). 

Earlier in the year, NNPCL had issued bid calls for investors across the world with an aim to seek partners to share stakes with in some of its assets.

These assets besides, the Nigerian operator already shares several assets in the region with international oil companies, including Shell, Chevron, Eni, and TotalEnergies. 

“We are positioning NNPC Limited as a globally competitive energy company capable of delivering sustainable returns while powering the future of Nigeria and Africa,” said Ojulari.