President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially commissioned a 40,000 cubic meters (CBM) Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) vessel, MT Iyaloja (Lagos), in Ulsan, South Korea, in a move aimed at expanding Nigeria’s clean energy footprint and deepening LPG accessibility and affordability.

 

The commissioning ceremony, held on Monday, was conducted on Tinubu’s behalf by Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas). The President hailed the milestone as a strategic advancement in Nigeria’s push for sustainable energy solutions, not just domestically but across Africa and beyond.

 

“Nigeria is poised to deliver clean and sustainable energy solutions across Africa. This vessel is a symbol of that commitment,” Tinubu stated in his message.

 

The vessel, named in honour of Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, Tinubu’s late mother and former Iyaloja of Lagos, was symbolically commissioned with a ribbon-cutting ceremony performed by Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria and granddaughter of the late Mogaji.

The new LPG carrier, a dual-fuel, fully refrigerated vessel, is the latest in the growing fleet of WAGL Energy Limited, a joint venture between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd. and Sahara Group. With its addition, WAGL’s fleet capacity now stands at 162,000 CBM, reinforcing the group’s dominance in the West African LPG supply chain.

Bayo Ojulari, Group CEO of NNPC, represented by Olalekan Ogunleye, EVP for Gas, Power and New Energy, described the commissioning as a major step in Nigeria’s gas development strategy.

 

“This vessel will enhance Nigeria’s ability to ensure nationwide LPG availability and affordability,” Ojulari said. “NNPC has delivered over 6 million metric tonnes of LPG across West Africa in the last five years through WAGL.”

Temitope Shonubi, Chairman of WAGL and Executive Director of Sahara Group, stated that the company’s fleet expansion reflects its broader goal of closing critical energy infrastructure gaps across the continent.

 

“MT Iyaloja (Lagos) embodies the spirit of progress and empowerment championed by Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji. Our partnership with NNPC underscores our commitment to energy access across Africa,” he said.

 

Sani Bello, Managing Director of WAGL, announced further plans to grow the fleet within the next two years, including the acquisition of a Small Gas Carrier and a Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC).

With Nigeria’s growing demand for cleaner and more efficient energy sources, the commissioning of MT Iyaloja (Lagos) represents a pivotal moment in the country’s energy transition strategy. Stakeholders believe it will not only improve domestic LPG distribution but also position Nigeria as a regional hub for gas exports.

 

The development is also seen as part of President Tinubu’s broader economic reform agenda, which places strong emphasis on energy security, infrastructure development, and i