NNPC to roll out smart self-service stations nationwide —Ojulari

NNPC Retail, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC Limited), recently launched its first Smart Self Service Station in Abuja. In this interview, NNPC Limited’s Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, explains the rationale behind the Smart Self Service Station and its positive impact on customers and the general public. He also provides insight into the project’s sustainability.

What is the strategic significance of NNPC Retail’s first Smart Self Service Station?

The strategic significance of NNPC Retail’s first Smart Self Service Station is that it helps to place this within the Culture Transformation journey NNPC Limited embarked on well over a year ago.  The Culture Transformation Journey is centred on our “Fit-For-Future” strategic pillars: Enterprise-First Mindset, Execution Excellence, Profitable Growth, and Partner of Choice.

How does it support NNPC Limited’s broader transformation agenda?

The recently commissioned Smart Self-Service Station represents the realisation of an important milestone in the transformation of NNPC Retail, and of NNPC Limited more broadly. 

It shows, in practice, how we’re using technology to make retail operations more efficient; a direct expression of our Execution Excellence pillar.

It supports our ambition to build a customer-centric, digitally enabled energy company that listens and responds to the changing needs of Nigerians, the essence of being a genuine Partner of Choice.

It reflects our commitment to transparent operations across our business, which we believe benefits not only the company but also the country’s broader growth and development, in line with our Profitable Growth pillar.

READ ALSO: We’re activating multiple pathways to transform Nigeria into global gas hub — NNPC

The model combines self-service fuelling with digital payments and additional energy solutions, including EV charging, LPG, and CNG. It isn’t simply a new type of filling station; it signals a shift toward a more integrated, technology-enabled energy retail experience, one we’ve developed with our technology and retail partners.

How soon should Nigerians expect this Smart Station model, including self-service fuelling, EV charging, LPG, and CNG — to be replicated across the country?

We understand the urgency behind this question, and we share it. Nigerians deserve to see the benefits of this innovation reach more communities as quickly as possible, but at NNPC Limited, speed and sustainability go hand in hand. Execution Excellence, one of our core pillars, means moving with deliberate speed while ensuring what we build lasts.

This first Smart Station is a proof of concept, and we’re moving deliberately, not slowly. Our immediate focus is to learn from its operation in real time, work closely with our technology partners to refine the system, and ensure the customer experience meets the standard Nigerians deserve, so that when we scale, we scale something that works, not something we have to rebuild.

Subject to the outcome of this initial deployment, we expect the rollout to follow in structured phases nationwide, guided by customer demand, location, infrastructure readiness, and the availability of the different energy solutions in each area. Our commitment is to move with urgency, but to execute in a way that stands the test of time.

How will NNPC ensure that the technology delivers transparent pricing, accurate dispensing, secure payments, and a reliable customer experience?

This is where our Enterprise-First Mindset and Execution Excellence pillars are put to the test in a very tangible way. Integrity in how we operate, and trust and convenience for the customer, are two sides of the same commitment.

Concretely, the Smart Station has been designed with real-time monitoring of transactions and equipment performance, alongside dedicated maintenance and customer support processes, so that issues are identified and addressed promptly, not after the fact.

Controls have been built in around pricing accuracy, dispensing calibration, and the security of digital payments, developed in partnership with our technology providers to meet the standards our customers deserve.

Just as important, we intend to keep listening, using data and direct customer feedback to refine the system continuously. Our objective is simple: every transaction should be easy, secure, and transparent, and every customer should walk away confident they got exactly what they paid for.