Nigeria Launches MT Iyaloja LPG Vessel, Boosts Clean Energy Drive Across Africa

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has also underscored Nigeria's fresh focus on clean and green energy with the formal commissioning of a 40,000 CBM Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) vessel, MT Iyaloja (Lagos), in Ulsan, South Korea. Owned by West Africa Gas Limited (WAGL)—a joint venture between NNPC Ltd. and Sahara Group—the ship is a dual-fuel, fully refrigerated LPG carrier that further expands Nigeria's energy infrastructure footprint across the continent.

Under the leadership of Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Tinubu recognized WAGL, NNPC Ltd., and Sahara Group for technical competence and strategic vision. MT Iyaloja (Lagos) is one of a growing fleet that has shipped over 6 million metric tons of LPG across West Africa in the past five years, including MT Africa Gas, MT Sahara Gas, MT BaruMK, and MT Sapet.

The vessel's commissioning marks the attainment of a milestone in Nigeria's gas development push, as NNPC Ltd. has vowed to further increase LPG affordability, availability, and access in the nation. WAGL Chairman Temitope Shonubi noted the symbolic naming of the vessel after the late President Tinubu's mother, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, and its role towards attainment of Africa's energy infrastructure deficit.

WAGL will further grow its fleet within two years with the addition of a Small Gas Carrier and a Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC), further solidifying Nigeria's position as a leader in clean energy supply in Africa and globally.