Nigeria’s gas sector received a major boost on Monday with the unveiling of a 40,000-cubic-metre Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) vessel, MT Iyaloja (Lagos). The vessel belongs to WAGL Energy Limited, a joint venture between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) and Sahara Group.
The launch, which took place in Ulsan, South Korea, underscored Africa’s growing role in the global clean energy transition. President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, said the project reflects Nigeria’s commitment to clean and sustainable energy solutions across the continent.
Boost to Fleet and Regional Supply
In a joint statement, NNPC and Sahara Group described MT Iyaloja (Lagos) as a dual-fuel, fully refrigerated LPG carrier. With its addition, WAGL’s fleet capacity has now risen to 162,000 cubic metres. The other vessels in the fleet include MT Africa Gas, MT Sahara Gas, MT BaruMK, and MT Sapet.
Furthermore, Tinubu praised the initiative for its “strategic foresight and technical excellence,” noting that it strengthens Africa’s presence in the global clean energy chain. He emphasized that the move aligns with Nigeria’s energy security goals while also addressing affordability and access for millions of households.
Group CEO of NNPC Ltd, Bayo Ojulari, represented by Executive Vice President, Gas, Power & New Energy, Olalekan Ogunleye, added that the vessel would accelerate Nigeria’s gas development programme. According to him, NNPC remains committed to making LPG more available and affordable nationwide.
Meanwhile, WAGL has already supplied more than six million metric tonnes of LPG across West Africa in the last five years, further consolidating its role as a regional player.
Expansion Plans and Symbolic Naming
WAGL’s Chairman and Sahara Group Executive Director, Temitope Shonubi, said the new vessel demonstrates the company’s determination to close Africa’s infrastructure gap. In addition, he explained that the vessel honours the late Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, describing it as a symbol of “progress and empowerment.”
Managing Director of WAGL, Mohammed Bello, revealed that the firm plans to add more carriers within the next two years. These include a small gas carrier and a Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC), which will significantly expand regional supply capacity.
Notably, the vessel was named after Alhaja Mogaji, the late mother of President Tinubu. Her granddaughter, Alhaja Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, who is the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, performed the ribbon-cutting at the ceremony, marking the vessel’s official entry into service.