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From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has allayed fears that the introduction of smart and self-service filling stations would lead to massive job losses in the downstream petroleum sector. The company said the deployment of automated stations was part of efforts to improve efficiency and customer experience, stressing that the technology would create new opportunities rather than simply eliminate existing jobs.
NNPC also disclosed plans to transform about 900 of its existing retail outlets across the country into modern energy hubs, as it adapts its retail business to changing consumer needs and developments in the downstream sector.
The disclosures were made yesterday at the commissioning of a 24-hour smart, self-service filling station at the headquarters of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Bill Clinton Drive, Abuja.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director, Retail Operations and Mobility, NNPC Retail Limited, Shettima Kukawa, said the new model was designed to provide customers with faster, more convenient and technology-driven services.
He said the transformation of the company’s retail outlets was not about simply replacing workers with machines, but about creating a modern retail environment capable of providing more services to customers.
Kukawa explained that the smart station allows motorists to purchase fuel through the NNPC fuel app, fund their digital wallets and dispense the exact quantity of fuel they have paid for using a self-service code.
The station has a storage capacity of 180,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and 45,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), with 16 PMS pumps and two AGO pumps.
It also has a six-point electric vehicle (EV) charging facility and is primarily powered by a solar system with more than 200kWh capacity.
Managing Director, NNPC Retail Limited, Hubb Stokman, said the downstream industry was undergoing significant changes following fuel deregulation and the commencement of operations at the Dangote Refinery.
Stokman said consumers were also demanding more services at filling stations, pointing out that the traditional fuel-only model was no longer sufficient to meet their expectations.
“Today shows that the downstream industry is changing after the fuel deregulation and also the start-up of the Dangote Refinery. Our industry is rapidly changing, and I think that more than ever, we need to meet the needs of the Nigerian consumer and their wishes.
“They want to see more services, like a fast food restaurant, convenience shop, maybe a coffee shop, banks. They would like to have a lounge or car wash. All these things that you will see here,” he said.
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Also speaking, the Executive Vice President, Downstream, NNPC Limited, Dr Mumuni Dagazau, said the company was moving beyond the traditional concept of a filling station by integrating technology and alternative energy solutions into its retail network.
He said the development represented the type of modern retail infrastructure that should be replicated across the country, stressing that Nigerians deserved improved quality and service.
“Our objective at NNPC is not simply to provide fuel, it is to provide reliable energy solutions and a better retail experience supported by technology and innovation.
“We deserve these sort of stations throughout this country. We need to move away from where we have been and deliver this sort of quality and the service to our people in the community,” Dagazau said.
The Executive Director, Corporate Services and Administration, NMDPRA, Dr Mustapha Lamorde, said the adoption of technology in fuel retailing must go hand in hand with safety and environmental responsibility.
“For us in NMDPRA, we would like to match efficiency and the use of technology with safety, environmental stewardship, and also, you know, a good commitment to our environment,” Lamorde said.
He said the regulator would continue to support developments that improve efficiency while ensuring that safety standards and environmental considerations were not compromised.
On his part, the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap, commended NNPC Limited for integrating EV charging with conventional fuelling.
Represented by Saidu Daura, the Deputy Comptroller-General, Nandap said the development aligned with global trends in energy transition, climate action and smart mobility, describing it as a practical step towards a cleaner, more sustainable and technology-driven economy.
She said the shift to technologies such as electric mobility could create opportunities for investment, employment, skills transfer and industrial growth.
“Today’s commissioning goes beyond the opening of a service station. It is a statement of confidence in Nigeria’s future and a contribution to building a resilient, green, and technologically advanced nation,” she said.
Nandap called for stronger collaboration between government institutions, the private sector and other stakeholders to promote sustainable development and national progress.
The station operates round-the-clock and includes automated services designed to reduce waiting time and give motorists greater control over their transactions.
