NNPCL Goes to America 

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) is packing its bags for a trip to the United States. According to reports, on the agenda is a meeting with Trump’s Energy Secretary, Chris Wright. This is coming as Washington’s new energy boss is all about pumping more oil, ditching climate policies, and letting countries like Nigeria do their thing without interference. NNPCL seems to be hoping to get in on the action, ergo, the visit.

This reported meeting is happening at a rather delicate time. Back home, NNPCL is trying to figure out what to do with Dangote Refinery, which has been buying crude oil in naira at a friendly rate. Unfortunately, it is alleged that the arrangement is about to expire, so the public is still unsure whether NNPCL will keep giving Dangote cheap crude, or will it turn its attention to bigger players abroad.

It needs to be said that the global oil market isn’t exactly rolling out the red carpet for Nigerian crude. Buyers are currently spoiled for choice, with cheaper options from Kazakhstan, the U.S., and the Mediterranean. If NNPCL doesn’t play its cards right, it could end up with barrels of unsold oil. This is all happening at the time Dangote scrambles to secure new supplies, so it is not exactly the ideal scenario.

But it seems that this isn’t just about oil sales but also power. By cozying up to the Trump administration, NNPCL would be positioning itself on the global stage. But the risks are real. If NNPCL bets too much on international deals and leaves Dangotehanging, the ripple effects could hit local fuel supplies—and that’s the kind of headache no one wants.

So, with things being the way they are and the NNPCL executives scheduled to be in the US and trying to secure their place in Trump’s new energy world, questions are arising. Will they walk away with a solid deal, or will this just be another round of handshakes and polite nods? Whichever it ends up being, we can all expect that Nigeria’s oil industry is about to get very interesting.