The next time you stop at an NNPC outlet, the attendant you are used to seeing at the pump may not be there at all.
Nigeria’s national oil company just opened a facility in Abuja where motorists dispense fuel through a mobile app and pay digitally on their phones.
The station runs on solar energy, operates around the clock, and offers electric vehicle charging alongside conventional gasoline and diesel dispensing pumps.
NNPC calls it an energy hub rather than a filling station, and the distinction is deliberate given what the company is planning for the downstream sector.
The Abuja station is only the opening move in a rollout that could change how millions of Nigerians interact with the fuel pump over the next six months.
NNPC targets up to 70 self-service fuel stations across Nigeria
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) plans to deploy between 50 and 70 smart self-service fuel stations across Nigeria within six months, the News Agency of Nigeria reported.
Dr Mumuni Dagazau, Executive Vice President for Downstream at NNPC Ltd., announced the target at the station’s commissioning in Abuja on September 10, 2026.
The facility sits along Airport Road with storage for 180,000 liters of gasoline and 45,000 liters of diesel across 16 gasoline pumps and two diesel pumps.
Six electric vehicle charging points, installed through a partnership with African Motor Works, can fully charge a vehicle within 30 to 40 minutes.
Motorists who download the free NNPC Retail app can select their preferred fuel volume, pay directly on their phone, and dispense fuel without attendant assistance.
The company said the Abuja location would also introduce Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) dispensing, vehicle conversion centers, and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) services.
Four or five additional stations are planned for Abuja alone, while two more are set for commissioning in Kano, Dagazau confirmed at the launch event.
Deregulation and the Dangote Refinery pushed NNPC to rethink fuel retail
Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector has shifted rapidly since the government deregulated fuel pricing and the Dangote Petroleum Refinery began large-scale domestic production.
That shift has forced operators to compete on service quality, digital convenience, and access to alternative energy rather than relying on fuel supply volume alone.
NNPC Retail’s Managing Director said the company had to respond to consumers who now demand sustainable operations, competitive pricing, and faster, technology-enabled service.
“Above all, especially the younger generation, they want us to deliver it in a sustainable way, hence the fact that you also see that this station is completely solar-powered.” — Huub Stokman, Managing Director, NNPC Retail, via Vanguard
Competition among downstream marketers has intensified, with depot operators adjusting gasoline and diesel loading prices in narrow bands to attract buyers, Vanguard reported.
Shettima Baba-Kukawa, NNPC’s Executive Director for Retail Operations and Mobility, said the outlet was built as an energy and mobility hub rather than a conventional station.
NNPC’s energy hubs arrive as Nigeria’s EV charging market surges
The smart station rollout positions NNPC at the center of Nigeria’s growing electric vehicle infrastructure buildout, which is still in its early stages across the country.
Nigeria’s EV charging market was valued at $1.24 billion in 2025, with projections pointing toward $13.97 billion by 2035, Expert Market Research data indicated.
President Bola Tinubu has set October 1, 2026, as the target date for reduced nationwide transport fares built on wider adoption of CNG-powered and electric vehicles.
The federal government has converted more than 120,000 vehicles to CNG and is financing over 100 gas projects, including 15 CNG mother stations and 86 daughter stations, Legit.ng reported.
Dagazau said the smart stations would not eliminate jobs, arguing that energy hubs need more staff than traditional outlets to manage automation and EV charging systems.
A fully charged EV at the Abuja station can travel between 410 and 700 kilometers before requiring another charge, depending on the vehicle model and battery level.
Key numbers behind NNPC’s smart station push
- Rollout target: 50 to 70 stations within six months
- Fuel storage: 180,000 liters (gasoline), 45,000 liters (diesel)
- EV charging cost: ₦400 per kilowatt-hour; full charge in 30 to 40 minutes
- EV range per full charge: 410 to 700 kilometers
- Power source: 200+ kilowatt solar system
- Operation: 24 hours daily, self-service via NNPC Retail mobile app
Sources: News Agency of Nigeria, NAN (station details)
What NNPC’s smart station push means for Nigerian motorists
The practical reality for Nigerian motorists is that NNPC has staked its downstream credibility on an aggressive rollout across a country where infrastructure gaps remain a persistent challenge.
Dagazau described the initiative as a direct response to evolving consumer expectations, noting that the company aimed to deliver “the guarantee and comfort” that customers deserve at the pump.
Early adopters in Abuja can test the self-service model through the free NNPC Retail app by funding a digital wallet and generating a transaction code at the pump.
The EV charging option costs ₦ 400 per kilowatt-hour and takes 30 to 40 minutes for a full charge, based on the specifications NNPC disclosed at the commissioning.
