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Tag: NNPC

  • Court orders FG, NNPC boss, EFCC to respond to suit seeking Ojulari’s sack

    Court orders FG, NNPC boss, EFCC to respond to suit seeking Ojulari’s sack

    • …declines ex parte motion

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has issued an order directed President Bola Tinubu and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Bayo Ojulari, to respond to a request to compel the President to suspend him from office pending the determination of a suit querying his competence for the job.

    Justice Mohammed Madugu (sitting in the Bwari division of the court) issued the order in a ruling on an ex parte motion filed by a group, the Incorporated Trustees of Initiative for Promotion of Civic Obligation and Sustainable Peace.

    Justice Madudu declined the group’s requests, made ex parte, that President Tinubu be compelled to suspend Ojulari or that the NNPC boss be ordered to step down forthwith.

    The two reliefs, in respect of which President Tinubu and Ojulari are to file a response, are:

    *An interim order directing and mandating the first defendant, in the exercise of his the constitutional duty, to suspend or direct the third defendant (Bayo Ojulari) to temporarily step aside from office as the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and in his stead appoint another person in acting capacity, pending the conclusion of the investigation by the second defendant (EFCC) pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

    *An order of interim injunction restraining the third defendant (Bayo Ojulari), being subject of ongoing or an investigation by the second defendant (EFCC) over the aforementioned allegations bothering on gross misconduct, abuse of office, act of money laundering, financial and economic crimes in the discharge of his duties, from discharging duties or exercising the functions of the office of the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

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    The requests were part of the six principal reliefs sought by the group in the motion ex parte it filed on November 27.

    The President is listed as the first defendant in the suit, while Ojulari is named as the third defendant.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which the plaintiff claimed is currently investigating Ojulari, is named as the second defendant.

    The judge granted the following reliefs:

    The court issued an order directing the defendants/respondents to show cause within 14 days why prayers three and four (highlighted above) should not be granted.

    Granted leave to the claimant to effect substituted service of all court documents it has filed so far, in relation to the case, on the President through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja.

    It is also ordered that the claimant serve the originating documents on the NNPC boss “through the officer or staff of the Legal Department of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, at its head office at NNPC Towers, Herbert Macaulay Way, Central Business District. Abuja. “

    The judge also issued an order deeming the substituted service on the President and Ojulari as proper and valid.

    He granted an accelerated hearing in the case and adjourned till January 19 for the hearing.

  • Team integrity tops medals table at 14th NNPC sports fiesta 

    Team integrity tops medals table at 14th NNPC sports fiesta 

    The 14th NNPC Ltd. Sports Fiesta came to a thrilling end on Saturday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, with the Company’s Team Integrity topping the final medals table to win the overall best team of the week-long tournament.

    Team Integrity, featuring sportsmen and women from the Company’s Port Harcourt & Benin Zones, emerged the winner with a total of 31 gold, 18 silver and 21 bronze medals, while also winning nine trophies overall.

    Coming second is Team Sustainability, featuring sportsmen and women from NNPC’s Abuja and Kaduna zones, winning a total of 15 gold, 26 silver and 23 bronze medals. 

    Team Excellence, featuring sportsmen and women from the Company’s Lagos and Warri zones emerged third, with a total of 13 gold, 16 silver and 19 bronze medals.

    Speaking at the closing ceremony of the fiesta, the Group CEO, NNPC Limited, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari described the performance of the athletes as a brilliant reminder that NNPC Ltd can win on the field and in the marketplace through the virtues of resilience, teamwork and excellence.

    Chief Corporate Communications Officer

    NNPC Ltd, Mr. Andy Odeh made this known in a press statement.

    He added that NNPC Ltd looks forward to defending its legendary status as the team to beat during the forthcoming 20th Nigeria Oil & Gas Industry Games (NOGIG) in February 2026, adding that there was ample evidence the athletes emerging from the Fiesta will carry the Company’s winning legacy forward.

    “Let the discipline you showed throughout these games elevate our performance; let the unity you built here strengthen our teamwork; let the excellence you demonstrated become our daily standard,” the GCEO noted.

    Also speaking at the closing ceremony, the Executive Vice President, Business Services, Sophia Mbakwe, said from what she saw at the week-long fiesta, “NNPC Ltd is not just going to participate at the forthcoming NOGIG, it is also going to make an impression.”

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    This 14th edition of the NNPC Sports Fiesta, which has as its theme “Energy In Motion: Compete, Connect & Celebrate”, saw a total of 450 athletes participating, symbolizing NNPC Ltd’s belief in the integral role of physical well-being in enhancing organizational productivity among employees.

    During the keenly contested fiesta, the sportsmen and women competed in 13 sports, namely football, basketball, volleyball, chess, squash, scrabble, 8-ball pool, golf, tennis, table tennis, badminton, swimming and athletics. 

    The fiesta also served as a platform for selecting NNPC Ltd’s potential flagbearers at the forthcoming NOGIG Games, where the Company will defend its title of overall winner, a feat it has maintained over the years. 

    The NNPC Ltd has been a serial winner of the NOGIG Games, which also features other participating teams from the International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in Nigeria and key agencies under the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

    During the last edition of NOGIG held in 2024 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, NNPC Ltd emerged the overall winner of the tournament, carting home 50 laurels, which included 20 gold, 9 silver and 21 bronze medals.

  • 850 technicians graduate from NNPC/Seplat JV training centre in 30 years

    850 technicians graduate from NNPC/Seplat JV training centre in 30 years

    No fewer than 850 world-class technicians have graduated from the NNPC/Seplat JV training centre in Eket local government area of Akwa Ibom state in the past 30 years.

    The last batch of forty-nine technicians in the G13 class graduated from the Centre in the areas of Applied Instrumentation and Controls Technology, Applied Electrical Maintenance and Technology, Applied Oil and Gas Technology and Applied Mechanical Maintenance Technology.

    This took place on Tuesday as the centre celebrated 30 Years of Technical Training Excellence and 2 Million Incident-Free Offshore Man-Hours without a single recordable incident in its offshore operations.

    The commemorative event, themed “From Roots to Results – Three Decades of Growth,” brought together industry leaders, community partners, government representatives, and families of the graduating apprentices.

    In his keynote address, Roger Brown, Chief Executive Officer, Seplat Energy Plc, represented by Samson Ezugworie, Chief Operations Officer, Seplat Energy Plc welcomed guests and emphasized the significance of the moment.

    He described the ceremony as “a celebration of a journey that began thirty years ago and has evolved into something exceptional,” maintaining that the theme of the event, “From Roots to Results – Three Decades of Growth,” perfectly reflects the transformational path that the TTC has traveled since its establishment.

    Brown said that the TTC founded three decades ago was created with a visionary purpose “to build a world-class pipeline of indigenous technicians equipped to compete globally and to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s industrial and energy development. “

    He said, “TTC was built on a bold belief, abelief that developing local talent would strengthen operational excellence and shape the future of Nigeria’s energy landscape. Those were our roots — and today, the results speak for themselves.”

    He said that the achievements of the centre underscored the enduring impact its impact across the industry, including more than 850 technicians trained since inception, many of whom now hold leadership positions both within and outside Nigeria.

    According to him, “TTC’s distinction as the world’s first City & Guilds Centre of Excellence is an infallible proof of the centre’s global reputation for high standards and rigorous training.

    Addressing the graduands directly, the Brown congratulated them on achieving an important step in their professional journey. “This moment belongs to you. You have earned it through dedication and discipline. You are entering a world that is dynamic and competitive, but you are ready, equipped not only with technical expertise, but with the mindset and values that define excellence,” he said.

    John Itsueli, General Manger, JV Operations, highlighted the TTC’s “humble beginning in a small office at the Qua Iboe Terminal”, and its growth into a world class institution, which now sees it “proudly recognnised as the first City and Guilds Centre of Excellence globally.”

    He commended “the trainers, assessors, administrators and support teams whose tireless efforts have named these achievements possible.”

    On his part, Goodluck Enimedoukienoniso, Best Graduating Student of the G13, expressed gratitude to all who made their journey possible to this point.

    He described his position as an honour and privilege because of the standard set by those who graduated from the TCC before them.

    Paying tribute to former students, he assured that the G13 would be building on the globally high standards the TCC has become famous for.

    He said, “thank you for the foundation you laid. We will build on it. These past two years have changed us. We came here as eager trainees but stand here today as professionals; professionals forged by challenges.”

    He assured that the G13 is ready to carry on, to join the workforce and make great impact because “We have been constructed, conscripted, pressure tested, culture tested and, dare I say, carved for purpose.”

    In his closing remarks, Oladotun Isiaka, Managing Director, Seplat Energy Producing Nigeria Unlimited, expressed delight at the growth and impact the TCC has made in the industry over the years, and expressed optimism that the G13 would be no exception.

  • CEAR lauds NNPC for N5.4tn 2024 profit, says reforms driving unprecedented growth

    CEAR lauds NNPC for N5.4tn 2024 profit, says reforms driving unprecedented growth

    A policy advocacy group, the Centre for Energy Accountability and Reform (CEAR), has praised the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited for posting a Profit After Tax of N5.4 trillion for the 2024 financial year.

    Describing the performance as “an unmistakable affirmation that Nigeria’s oil industry is finally responding to disciplined management and modern commercial reforms”, the Centre said the latest figures released by GCEO Bayo Ojulari mark the clearest evidence yet that the company’s push for operational efficiency, transparency and investment expansion is yielding measurable gains.

    In a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja and signed by CEAR’s Executive Director, Dr. Ibrahim Ahmed, the organisation noted that NNPC’s newly announced profit represents a 64 percent rise from the N3.297 trillion posted in 2023. 

    Revenue also surged by 88 percent to N45.1 trillion, driven by increased production volumes and strengthened downstream reforms.

    CEAR added that the results further validate NNPC’s transformation since becoming a limited liability company, crediting Ojulari’s leadership for stabilising operations, tightening cost controls and restoring investor confidence at a time when global capital is increasingly sensitive to governance standards.

    Read Also: 14th NNPC sports fiesta kicks off in Abuja

    “This profit performance is not accidental. It reflects a deliberate, disciplined shift in how NNPC Limited is run—one that prioritises efficiency, transparency and commercial viability. Under Bayo Ojulari’s watch, the company has shown that a national oil company can be profitable, globally competitive and strategically aligned with national development goals,” the statement reads.

    The Centre said the ongoing reforms across the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors are beginning to correct years of inefficiency, vandalism, under-investment and regulatory conflict. 

    Ahmed noted that the financial results align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, particularly the push for fiscal sustainability and improved sectoral governance.

    While acknowledging the decline in foreign exchange earnings reported in the 2024 statement, the Centre said the shortfall underscores the need for sustained reforms to boost production, expand gas output and deepen value-addition rather than crude export dependency.

    “The path to long-term stability must be investment-led and production-driven. NNPC Limited’s plan to raise crude output to two million barrels per day by 2027 and three million barrels per day by 2030 is the type of ambition the sector requires. Likewise, the move to scale gas production to 12 billion standard cubic feet per day by 2030 shows strategic foresight,” the statement added.

    CEAR also praised the company’s plan to mobilise $60 billion in new investments across the value chain, saying such an expansion will be critical for job creation, revenue growth and anchoring Nigeria’s energy transition.

    “With this performance, NNPC Limited has sent a clear message that Nigeria’s energy sector can work, and work profitably, when guided by clear vision and competent management,” Ahmed said.

    The Centre urged regulators, industry players and political actors to avoid distractions and continue supporting the reforms that are restoring credibility to Nigeria’s petroleum value chain.

  • 14th NNPC sports fiesta kicks off in Abuja

    14th NNPC sports fiesta kicks off in Abuja

    The 14th NNPC Ltd. Sports Fiesta will kick-off at the weekend (Sunday, November 30th 2025) at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja as the Company strives to retain its legendary status of the team to beat in the Nigeria Oil & Gas Industry Games (NOGIG) coming up later in February, next year.

    This year’s edition of the biennial event themed “Energy In Motion: Compete, Connect & Celebrate” will see a total of 450 athletes participating, symbolizing NNPC Ltd’s belief in the integral role of physical well-being in enhancing organizational productivity among employees.

    The one-week tournament, which will climax on Saturday, 6th December, 2025, will feature teams from NNPC Ltd’s six zones representing the Company’s three core values: Team Integrity (Port Harcourt/Benin); Team Excellence (Lagos/Warri) and Team Sustainability (Abuja/Kaduna).

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    NNPCL Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Mr. Andy Odeh disclosed this a press statement on Friday.

    He said during the keenly contested fiesta, the Company’s employees are expected to compete in 13 sports, namely football, basketball, volleyball, chess, squash, scrabble, 8-ball pool, golf, tennis, table tennis, badminton, swimming and athletics.

    The fiesta will also serve as a platform for selecting NNPC Ltd’s potential flagbearers at the forthcoming 20th Nigeria Oil & Gas Industry Games (NOGIG) in February 2026, where the Company will defend its title of overall winner, a feat it has maintained over the years.

  • 14th NNPC sports fiesta kicks off in Abuja 

    14th NNPC sports fiesta kicks off in Abuja 

    …As firm vows to retain

     …Champion status in oil Industry games

    The 14th NNPC Ltd. Sports Fiesta will kick-off at the weekend (Sunday, November 30th 2025) at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja as the Company strives to retain its legendary status of the team to beat in the Nigeria Oil & Gas Industry Games (NOGIG) coming up later in February, next year.

    This year’s edition of the biennial event themed “Energy In Motion: Compete, Connect & Celebrate” will see a total of 450 athletes participating, symbolizing NNPC Ltd’s belief in the integral role of physical well-being in enhancing organizational productivity among employees.

    The one-week tournament, which will climax on Saturday, 6th December, 2025, will feature teams from NNPC Ltd’s six zones representing the Company’s three core values: Team Integrity (Port Harcourt/Benin); Team Excellence (Lagos/Warri) and Team Sustainability (Abuja/Kaduna).

    NNPCL Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Mr. Andy Odeh disclosed this a press statement on Friday.

    He said during the keenly contested fiesta, the Company’s employees are expected to compete in 13 sports, namely football, basketball, volleyball, chess, squash, scrabble, 8-ball pool, golf, tennis, table tennis, badminton, swimming and athletics. 

    The fiesta will also serve as a platform for selecting NNPC Ltd’s potential flagbearers at the forthcoming 20th Nigeria Oil & Gas Industry Games (NOGIG) in February 2026, where the Company will defend its title of overall winner, a feat it has maintained over the years. 

    The NNPC Ltd has been a serial winner of the NOGIG Games, which also features other participants from International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in Nigeria and key agencies under the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

    During the last edition of NOGIG held in 2024 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, NNPC Ltd emerged the overall winner of the tournament, carting home 50 laurels, which include 20 gold, 9 silver and 21 bronze medals. 

  • NNPC/Heirs Energies boost domestic gas supply with 135 MMscf/d

    NNPC/Heirs Energies boost domestic gas supply with 135 MMscf/d

    Gas supply received a boost in the country as the NNPC/Heirs Energies OML 17 Joint Venture (JV) announced an additional 135 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscf/d), to the basket, thus further strengthening the nation’s energy security.

    The feat, achieved after a rigless recompletion of a key non-associated gas well in OML 17, is said to be a pioneering intervention of such regarded as the first of its kind in the country, doubled the JV’s gas output.

    Prior to this development, the Well from which the new increase accrued, had previously been shut in due to excessive water production. Rather than drilling a new well or undertaking a conventional workover, Heirs Energies engineered a rigless through-tubing recompletion into an untapped reservoir interval. Completed safely, in record time, and at just 15 per cent of the cost of drilling a new Well, the operation sets a new standard for rigless solutions in Nigeria’s upstream sector.

    A statement signed by the Head Corporate Communications, Heirs Energies, Chidimma Ugbojiaku, a copy of which was made available to The Nation, explained that this significant production increase has transformed power generation across the eastern network.

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    For instance, it explained that Transcorp PLC – TransAfam Power, has quadrupled its output, rising from an average of 50 megawatts to more than 180 megawatts, with peaks of 200 megawatts. It further disclosed that other power plants also supplied by the network, including First Independent Power Limited (FIPL) and Geometric Power, have also recorded more stable operations and higher generation.

    “In total, the power plants now receiving gas from the Joint Venture have seen combined output surge from around 100 megawatts to more than 350 megawatts. This increased power generation provides enough energy to power hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses – reducing blackouts, supporting hospitals, and schools, and keeping factories, small enterprises, and critical infrastructure running,” the statement read in part.

    Commending the feat, the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Mrs Olu Verheijen, hailed the feat. “I congratulate the entire Heirs Energies team on this remarkable achievement, which is a testament to the strength of Nigerian engineering expertise and the value of persistent technical innovation. Please be assured of my continued support as you expand your operation across the energy sector, unlocking additional oil and gas resources to power homes, industries and commercial activities nationwide,” Mrs. Verheijen, remarked in a message to Heirs Energies CEO, Osa Igiehon,

    According to Igiehon, “the milestone is another testament to Heirs Energies’ leading capabilities in managing brownfields. The ingenuity, thoroughness, and resilience of our 100 per cent Nigerian workforce made this possible. We remain committed to supporting Nigeria’s gas-to-power agenda through innovation-led, responsible, and performance-driven upstream operations.”

    Executive Vice President, Upstream, NNPC Ltd, Udy Ntia, said: “This innovative intervention demonstrates NNPC’s strong commitment to unlocking the nation’s gas resources in support of national development. The performance of the NNPC/Heirs Energies OML 17 Joint Venture shows the power of partnership, disciplined execution, and innovation in driving substantial value for Nigeria.”

    In similar vein, the Chief Upstream Investment Officer, NUIMS, Seyi Omotowa, an engineer, added: “This project reflects NUIMS’ strategic focus on safe, efficient, and value-driven upstream operations. It is a model for the type of innovative solutions required to optimise Nigeria’s hydrocarbon assets.”

    The NNPC/Heirs Energies OML 17 Joint Venture continues to advance gas-focused, innovation-driven developments, aiming to expand domestic gas supply, strengthen electricity generation, build local capacity, and support broader economic and industrial growth. This latest success reinforces the JV’s commitment to delivering energy that powers homes, industries, and national prosperity

    Heirs Energies Limited is Africa’s leading indigenous-owned integrated energy company, committed to meeting Africa’s unique energy needs while aligning with global sustainability goals. Having a strong focus on innovation, environmental responsibility, and community development, Heirs Energies leads in the evolving energy landscape and contributes to a more prosperous Africa.

  • Let NNPC Limited  breathe

    Let NNPC Limited  breathe

    • By Adeyemi Adegbola

    Sir: In the global oil economy, few stories shine brighter than Norway’s. The Scandinavian nation transformed its petroleum riches into enduring prosperity through a disciplined, transparent, and politically insulated model. At the heart of this success was Statoil, now Equinor, a commercially run national oil company that operated with strategic autonomy while the state focused on policy and oversight.

    Nigeria, with its vast hydrocarbon wealth, stands at a similar crossroads. But instead of empowering NNPC Limited to become our own Statoil, some quarters are advocating a move that could further entangle it in bureaucratic confusion: transferring the concessionaire role to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

    This proposal is not just misguided, it’s dangerous.

    Since its incorporation under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), NNPC Limited has begun the long-overdue journey from a state-run agency to a commercially viable entity. The goal is clear: to operate like a real company, attract investment, compete globally, and deliver value to Nigerians. But this transformation requires clarity of purpose, operational independence, and a firewall against political interference.

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    Stripping NNPC Limited of its concessionaire role—the authority to hold and manage petroleum licenses on behalf of the federation, would undermine its evolution. It would muddle the waters of corporate governance, blur lines of accountability, and risk turning NUPRC into both referee and player in the upstream sector.

    Norway’s model worked because of clear institutional boundaries. Statoil handled exploration and production. The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy set policy. The central bank managed the sovereign wealth fund. Each entity had its lane and stayed in it.

    Nigeria must learn from this. NUPRC’s role is regulatory. It should monitor compliance, enforce standards, and ensure transparency. Giving it the concessionaire role risks regulatory capture and conflicts of interest. It’s akin to asking the referee to also play striker.

    Let’s be honest- 80% of NNPC’s historical dysfunction stems from politics, not structure. From opaque appointments to budgetary distortions and policy flip-flops, the company has been a victim of state overreach. The solution is not to weaken NNPC Limited further but to shield it from political meddling and let it operate like a business.

    Empowering NNPC Limited as the sole concessionaire, with strong oversight from the Ministry of Finance and the Presidency, would create a clear line of accountability. It would also allow the company to build strategic partnerships, raise capital, and deliver returns, just as Statoil did.

    To ensure transparency and good governance, NNPC Limited must embrace global best practices in corporate reporting and public accountability. This includes publishing audited financial statements, disclosing beneficial ownership structures, and making contract terms and revenue flows publicly accessible. Nigeria is a member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), and NNPC Limited should not merely comply but lead by example, setting a new standard for openness in Africa’s energy sector. Transparency is not a luxury, it is the bedrock of credibility.

    Furthermore, NNPC Limited must be governed by an independent, merit-based board with clear performance metrics tied to profitability, efficiency, and environmental stewardship. Internal audit systems should be strengthened, and whistleblower protections enforced to encourage accountability from within. These reforms will not only insulate the company from political interference but also position it as a globally respected energy player, one that can attract investment, drive innovation, and deliver long-term value to Nigerians.

    Nigeria doesn’t need more agencies. It needs stronger institutions. The federal government must resist the temptation to dilute NNPC Limited’s mandate. Instead, it should reaffirm NNPC Limited’s role as concessionaire; strengthen NUPRC’s regulatory independence; insulate both entities from political interference; and hold NNPC Limited accountable through transparent performance metrics.

    Let NNPC Limited breathe. Let it become Nigeria’s Statoil. And let us finally turn our oil wealth into a legacy of prosperity, not another chapter of missed opportunities.

    •Adeyemi Adegbola,

    Ile- Ife.

  • NNPC seeks collaboration to achieve energy security

    NNPC seeks collaboration to achieve energy security

    The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC (NNPC) Limited, Bayo Ojulari, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to partnering with other African nations to achieve sustainable energy security across the continent.

     Ojulari reiterated this position while addressing industry leaders at the 7th African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation (APPO) National Oil Companies CEOs Forum, where he stressed the urgency for Africa to accelerate its energy transition and secure its energy future.

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    In a statement signed by the firm’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh and made available to the press, Ojulari highlighted the decline of European investments in fossil fuel refineries, with most set to phase out by 2030, noting that this development makes it imperative for Africa to take decisive action in harnessing its abundant resources for the benefit of its people.

  • NNPC Foundation trains 6,000 farmers to reduce food import

    NNPC Foundation trains 6,000 farmers to reduce food import

    …storms Bwari for training of FCT, Niger

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited NNPC Foundation, on Friday, said it has decided to train 6,000 vulnerable farmers across the country to reduce reliance on food importation.

    Speaking at the event in Abuja during the “Flag-Off Training for Farmers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja/Nigeria Cluster, the foundation’s managing director, Emmanuella Arukwe, said, “The initiative focuses on addressing food insecurity, a critical issue in Nigeria. By training farmers across the six geopolitical zones, the project targets increasing local food production, thus reducing reliance on food imports and enhancing national food security.”

    She announced that it was the official launch of the training of the vulnerable farmers in the northern geopolitical zones, beginning with the North Central.

    He recalled that in the previous week, the foundation commenced the training with the cluster of Kogi, Kwara, and Benue States.

    She said, “I am very delighted to stand before you today as the NNPC
Foundation
officially launches

    Training Programme for Vulnerable farmers in the northern geopolitical zones.

    “We take off in the north geopolitical zone with the North-Central, which we earlier commenced in the previous week with the cluster of Kogi, Kwara, and Benue States.”

    She said NNPC Foundation started the training of vulnerable farmers earlier in the 2nd quarter of 2025, in the south geopolitical zones, and concluded it successfully.

     NNPC Foundation, said Arwukwe, “is embarking on this farmers’ training

    Programme across the six (6) geopolitical zones of Nigeria, targeting to uplift the living standards of 6,000 vulnerable farmers by equipping them with essential skills and knowledge in modern farming techniques.”

    She explained that the foundation started the programme because of the recognition of the challenges local farming population.

    According to her, the local farmers are grappling with issues of lack of seedlings, poor yields, limited access to resources and tools, transportation constraints for marketing their produce, climate change, and lack of requisite knowledge to navigate through the challenges.

    She said the foundation took it upon itself to render essential interventions to bridge the gap.

    Continuing, she added that the foundation believes that by improving the agricultural practices of Nigeria’s local farmers, it can help increase their productivity, which directly contributes to better income and livelihoods for their families and lifts them from subsistence level to commercial scale farming.

    The Managing Director said deliberately, the programme sets out to help underserved farming communities understand modern farming techniques and climate change, and leverage that understanding to plant all-year round, thereby improving yield, reducing loss, and strengthening their livelihoods.

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    She added that the initiative focuses on addressing food insecurity, a critical issue in Nigeria.

    She said the focus is vital for the stability and sustainability of the country’s food supply chain, community resilience, and economic stability.

    Arukwe said the foundation expected that every participant in this training would effectively utilise the knowledge gained to make informed decisions on their farming plans and activities.

    She said, “I can assure you that the knowledge that will be gained from the insightful sessions will be invaluable to not just the individual beneficiary, but will give birth a spiral effect that will benefit communities and our dear country in the long term.

    “It is pertinent to note that rather than provide food to feed people in the short term, it is better to teach them how to produce food and achieve lasting impact and sustainability.

    “Beyond the numbers, the programme will empower individuals and communities for food sustenance and hopefully create a viable food export market.”

    Meanwhile, the Mandate Secretary of Agriculture and Food, FCTA, Ibrahim Yaro, said that although agriculture can solve 60% of the country’s social challenges, intervention has been lacking.

    According to him, food security should be a topic of discussion in all programmes.

    He commended the NNPCL Foundation, admonishing the management to guide against influencing the influence programme.

    Stressing the essence of training before empowerment, he said 75% of Nigeria’s farmers are at the subsistence level.

    He revealed that “food production has increased and the prices are coming down in FCT.

    He warned the beneficiaries not to marry more wives with the starter packs from the foundation.

    He urged the foundation to give them reasonable starter packs for agriculture.