Tope Shonubi’s Sahara and NNPC agree to improve energy access across Nigeria

Key Points

• Sahara Group partners with NNPC to expand energy access in Nigeria through collaboration aimed at boosting energy competitiveness.
• Under Tope Shonubi, Sahara Group operates in over 40 countries, generating over $10 billion in revenue and employing over 4,000 people globally.
• Asharami Synergy to build 30,000-tonne LPG terminal in Mombasa under 31-year PPP, enhancing clean energy supply in East Africa.

Sahara Group, the energy conglomerate led by Nigerian businessman Tope Shonubi, has entered into a new partnership with Nigeria’s state-owned oil giant, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) to improve energy access for Nigerians nationwide.

NNPC, Sahara boost Nigeria’s energy reach

The agreement was reached during a recent meeting between Sahara Group’s leadership team, Shonubi, Moroti Adedoyin-Adeyinka, Kola Adesina, and Walid Ajibade, and NNPC’s Group CEO, Bayo Ojulari. Both sides discussed how closer collaboration could drive progress in Nigeria’s energy sector and help expand the country’s influence in regional and global markets.

Ojulari, who is spearheading efforts to reposition NNPC as a globally competitive energy company, emphasized the need for partnerships that deliver real value and lasting impact. Sahara Group’s executives expressed their full support for the initiative, saying the company remains committed to supporting sustainable growth in Africa and beyond.

Founded in 1996 by Shonubi, Tonye Cole, and Ade Odunsi, Sahara Group started as Sahara Energy Resources, focusing on petroleum product trading. Over time, it has grown into one of Nigeria’s leading energy firms, with operations spanning oil production, power generation, and commodities trading. Under Shonubi’s leadership, the group has diversified its offerings and expanded its footprint across multiple continents.

Today, Sahara Group operates in over 40 countries and has recorded over $10 billion in revenue during its 25-year journey. The company employs more than 4,000 people globally and continues to pursue new projects that align with its long-term growth strategy.

Sahara secures Kenyan LPG terminal deal

One of its recent moves includes a significant investment in East Africa. Earlier this year, Asharami Synergy, Sahara Group’s downstream energy subsidiary, secured a contract to build a 30,000-metric-tonne liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) terminal in Mombasa, Kenya. The project, structured as a 31-year public-private partnership, will be built on a 23.19-acre site leased from Kenya Petroleum Refineries Ltd (KPRL). 

Once completed, the terminal is expected to make a meaningful difference in LPG availability and affordability by enabling large-scale imports and improving supply chains for cleaner household energy.

Asharami deepens East African investments

Asharami Synergy’s selection for the project reflects Kenya’s confidence in experienced private-sector players to modernize its fuel infrastructure. Already licensed under Kenya’s government-to-government procurement scheme, the company manages transactions with major global suppliers including Saudi Aramco, ADNOC, and ENOC.

This project forms part of Sahara Group’s strategy of investing in underutilized infrastructure across Africa and partnering with governments to unlock growth opportunities. For Shonubi, the Mombasa project is more than an investment—it’s a strategic step in deepening the company’s presence in East Africa, building on existing operations in Ghana, Uganda, and Tanzania.