Nigeria Expands LPG Fleet as Tinubu Commissions MT Iyaloja in South Korea to Boost Clean Energy Access
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to provide clean and sustainable energy solutions at home, across Africa, and globally.
The President made this known while commissioning a 40,000 cubic meter (CBM) Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) carrier, MT Iyaloja (Lagos), at a ceremony in Ulsan, South Korea.
The vessel, owned by WAGL Energy Limited—a joint venture between NNPC Ltd. and Sahara Group—is a dual-fuel, fully refrigerated LPG carrier.
With its addition, WAGL’s fleet capacity now stands at 162,000 CBM, joining MT Africa Gas, MT Sahara Gas, MT BaruMK, and MT Sapet.
Speaking on behalf of President Tinubu, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, commended WAGL Energy, NNPC Ltd., and Sahara Group for their strategic vision and technical expertise.
He noted that their efforts are positioning Africa as a stronger player in the global clean energy market.
NNPC Ltd.’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, represented by the Executive Vice President for Gas, Power & New Energy, Mr. Olalekan Ogunleye, described the commissioning as a milestone for Nigeria’s gas sector.
He stressed that the new vessel would help drive economic growth by leveraging gas as a catalyst for development.
He further emphasized NNPC Ltd.’s commitment to making LPG more affordable, accessible, and widely available across the country.
NNPC Ltd. noted its pride in being a key shareholder in WAGL Energy Limited, which has delivered over 6 million MT of LPG across West Africa in the last five years.
WAGL’s Chairman and Sahara Group’s Executive Director, Mr. Temitope Shonubi, said the company’s fleet expansion reflects its mission to address Africa’s energy infrastructure gaps responsibly.
He added that the new vessel, MT Iyaloja (Lagos), honors the legacy of Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, while showcasing the strength of the NNPC–Sahara partnership in advancing energy access across the continent.
WAGL’s Managing Director, Mr. Mohammed Sani Bello, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to expanding its integrated energy supply network.
He also revealed that WAGL plans to further grow its fleet within two years by adding both a Small Gas Carrier (SGC) and a Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC).
The symbolic ribbon-cutting was performed by Alhaja Folasade Mujidat Tinubu-Ojo, the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria and granddaughter of the late Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, for whom the vessel was named.
