NNPC Unveils Plan To Establish 70 Smart Fuel Stations Across Nigeria

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has announced plans to establish between 50 and 70 smart self-service filling stations across Nigeria within the next six months.

The new facilities are expected to offer motorists access to multiple forms of energy and additional automotive services, including petrol, gas, electric vehicle charging, car washing and vehicle maintenance.

According to Ireporter Online, NNPC Ltd. Executive Vice President, Downstream, Dr Mumuni Dagazau, disclosed the plan on Thursday during the commissioning of the company’s smart mega fuelling station in Abuja.

The facility is located along Bill Clinton Drive on Airport Road, between the Flight Training School and the headquarters of the Nigerian Immigration Service.

Dagazau described the Abuja facility as the first of several stations to be developed under the new model. He said another four or five smart stations were planned for Abuja, while two more would be established in Kano.

He explained that the initiative was aimed at transforming conventional filling stations into energy hubs where customers could access different energy sources and related services in one location.

The Abuja station has a 180,000-litre storage capacity for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and 45,000 litres for Automotive Gas Oil (AGO). It is equipped with 16 PMS dispensing pumps and two AGO pumps.

The facility also introduces self-service fuel dispensing, allowing customers to purchase petrol and make payments through the NNPC Retail mobile application.

Beyond conventional fuel sales, the station offers electric vehicle charging, gas dispensing, an automated car wash and vehicle servicing. Other products and services expected at the smart stations include Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and lubricants.

Dagazau said customers would be able to access the facilities at any time, including during nighttime operations.

The Abuja facility is fitted with fast electric vehicle chargers capable of charging a vehicle within approximately 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the vehicle type and battery level.

The NNPC executive also dismissed concerns that the introduction of self-service technology would lead to significant job losses.

According to him, personnel would still be required to assist customers, operate and manage automated systems, support electric vehicle charging and provide other services at the stations.

Dagazau said the initiative was instead expected to create new employment opportunities as the company integrates technology and automation into its retail operations.

He added that customers who are unable to operate the mobile application would still receive assistance from station personnel, while the NNPC Retail application would remain free to download.

As part of the modernisation programme, NNPC also plans to upgrade some of its existing filling stations while constructing new smart facilities in areas where customer demand justifies the investment.

The Abuja station is powered by a 200-kilowatt-hour solar energy system, with Dagazau indicating that the company was considering expanding the use of renewable energy across its retail network.

He said NNPC could no longer ignore technological developments and changing customer expectations, noting that more of the company’s stations could adopt the smart energy-hub model in the coming years.

Dagazau further disclosed that plans were underway to introduce CNG conversion facilities at some of the smart stations.

The facilities would enable motorists to convert their vehicles to CNG while also accessing other energy products and automotive services at the same locations.