President Bola Tinubu has commissioned a 40,000 cubic metre (CBM) Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) vessel, named MT Iyaloja (Lagos), in Ulsan, South Korea, aimed at enhancing LPG supply and affordability across Nigeria.
Speaking at the ceremony on Monday, the President—represented by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo—stated that Nigeria is committed to delivering clean and sustainable energy solutions both domestically and across Africa.
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 this addition, WAGL’s total LPG capacity reaches 162,000 CBM, joining other vessels in the fleet, including MT Africa Gas, MT Sahara Gas, MT BaruMK, and MT Sapet.
Tinubu, in a statement released by NNPC Ltd., commended WAGL Energy, NNPC Ltd., and Sahara Group for their strategic foresight, technical excellence, and commitment to expanding Africa’s presence in the global clean energy sector.
The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPC Ltd., Mr Bashir Ojulari—represented by the Executive Vice President, Gas, Power, and New Energy, Mr Olalekan Ogunleye—described the vessel as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s gas development efforts. He emphasised that the vessel would play a key role in enhancing LPG affordability, availability, and nationwide access.
Ojulari noted that NNPC Ltd., as a major shareholder in WAGL, has already supported the delivery of over six million metric tonnes of LPG across West Africa over the past five years.
WAGL’s Chairman and Executive Director at Sahara Group, Mr Temitope Shonubi, said the vessel’s commissioning reflects the company’s vision to responsibly bridge Africa’s energy infrastructure gap. He added that MT Iyaloja (Lagos) honours the legacy of the late Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, mother of President Tinubu, whose spirit of progress and empowerment continues to inspire.
WAGL’s Managing Director, Mr Mohammed Bello, confirmed plans to expand the fleet over the next two years with a Small Gas Carrier and a Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC), reinforcing the company’s integrated energy supply network.
The vessel’s symbolic ribbon-cutting was performed by Alhaja Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria and granddaughter of Alhaja Mogaji, marking a tribute to the matriarch in whose honour the vessel is named.
