Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, through its Executive Vice President, Downstream, Mumuni Dagazau, announced an ambitious rollout of NNPC self-service stations across the country, unveiling plans to deploy between 50 and 70 smart outlets within the next six months.
The announcement was made at the commissioning of a technology-driven mega station along Bill Clinton Drive, Airport Road, Abuja, marking a significant step in the company’s transition from traditional fuel retailing to integrated energy hubs.
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Mumuni Dagazau described the initiative as a forward-looking shift designed to meet evolving consumer expectations while embracing cleaner energy and digital convenience.
“This is the first of many smart stations that we are going to have around the country. We are trying to turn from a filling station to an energy hub,” Mumuni Dagazau said.
The newly unveiled facility reflects that vision, combining petrol dispensing with electric vehicle charging points, liquefied petroleum gas, compressed natural gas and a fully digital payment system.
Customers can dispense fuel independently, including at night, using mobile applications, although attendants remain on-site to assist where needed.
Despite concerns that automation could reduce employment, Mumuni Dagazau insisted the model would have the opposite effect, describing it as a powerful job creator within a more complex service ecosystem.
“What NNPC does is create jobs. If you look at the energy hub, you will find more people there than in the average filling station,” Mumuni Dagazau said, pointing to the need for technical support, customer assistance and system integration.
The Abuja station alone underscores the scale of the transformation.
According to Executive Director of Retail Operations and Mobility, Shettima Baba-Kukawa, the facility has a storage capacity of 180,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit and 45,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil.
It features 16 petrol pumps, two diesel pumps and six electric vehicle charging points, powered entirely by a solar system exceeding 200 kilowatts.
Beyond fuel, the station integrates lifestyle and convenience offerings including a quick-service restaurant, coffee shop, automated car wash and modern service bay, signalling a shift towards multi-purpose mobility centres.
The NNPC self-service stations initiative comes at a time of sweeping changes in Nigeria’s downstream sector, driven by deregulation policies, increased domestic refining capacity and the operational impact of the Dangote Refinery.
Industry observers note that consumers are increasingly demanding faster service, transparent pricing and alternative energy options.
NNPC Retail Managing Director Huub Stokman highlighted this shift, noting that younger consumers in particular are prioritising sustainability and digital access.
“Above all, especially the younger generation, they want us to deliver it sustainably, hence the fact that this station is completely solar-powered,” Huub Stokman said.
The project also drew commendation from Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, KN Nandap, who described the facility as a reflection of Nigeria’s growing embrace of smart technology and cleaner energy solutions, with potential to stimulate employment and industrial growth.
While the company plans to extend the model nationwide, Mumuni Dagazau acknowledged that the pace of expansion would depend on investment levels and customer demand.
Existing stations are also set to undergo gradual modernisation as part of the broader strategy.
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The rollout represents a decisive moment for NNPC as it seeks to redefine its retail footprint in a competitive and evolving energy market, balancing innovation with inclusivity while positioning itself for the future of mobility in Nigeria.
