President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated Nigeria’s first indigenous onshore crude oil export terminal, the $400 million Green Energy International Limited (GEIL) Otakikpo Terminal, located in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Represented by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Tinubu described the project as a major milestone in Nigeria’s energy infrastructure and a testament to indigenous capacity in the oil and gas sector.
“With the resolution of key issues, especially those involving the Ogoni people, the Otakikpo terminal will now evacuate crude oil produced from their land,” he said, appealing for cooperation from Ogoni leaders to ensure the region benefits from its natural resources.
The President noted that the facility’s commissioning comes amid renewed efforts to improve financing access in the energy sector, revealing that the $5 billion African Energy Bank (AEB) — to be hosted in Nigeria — is set to commence operations.
“The biggest challenge in the upstream sector has been access to finance. With the African Energy Bank ready to take off, that era is over,” Tinubu affirmed.
The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe, said the terminal expands Nigeria’s crude export capacity and reduces dependence on existing terminals operating near full capacity.
He added that the facility demonstrates the “world-class capability” of Nigerian firms and supports indigenous operators now contributing 30% of national oil output.
GEIL’s Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Anthony Adegbulugbe, disclosed that the terminal has a storage capacity of 750,000 barrels, expandable to 3 million barrels, and a pumping capacity of 360,000 barrels per day. Since June 2025, it has completed four export operations totaling one million barrels.
“Beyond the numbers, this terminal is a catalyst for national renewal. It unlocks more than 40 stranded fields in the region with over 3 million barrels of reserves,” Adegbulugbe said.
Lekoil CEO, Lekan Akinyanmi, whose company operates the Otakikpo field in partnership with GEIL, described the terminal as a “symbol of progress and credibility” that reflects the determination of indigenous producers to deliver value globally.
“This milestone validates our commitment to reliability, community development, and Nigeria’s broader energy ambitions,” Akinyanmi stated.
The terminal, Nigeria’s first indigenous crude export hub in over 50 years, is expected to significantly enhance production efficiency, boost local participation, and reinforce the country’s position in the global oil market.
