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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) is set to introduce between 50 and 70 smart, self service filling stations across Nigeria within the next six months as part of efforts to transform conventional petrol stations into modern energy hubs.
The company disclosed the plan on Thursday during the commissioning of a new self service station equipped with an electric vehicle charging facility in Abuja.
Mumuni Dagazau, NNPC’s Executive Vice President, Downstream, said the new stations represent a shift from the traditional filling station model to an integrated energy hub capable of providing multiple energy and mobility services.
According to Dagazau, NNPC already has several such facilities in Abuja, with two more being launched in Kano, as the company prepares for a wider nationwide rollout.
“We are hoping to roll out a significant number, about 50 to 70 of these types of stations, within the next six months,” he said.
Self Service, Digital Payments and EV Charging
The new model will combine different energy sources and services, including petrol, gas, electricity and electric vehicle charging facilities.
Under the self service arrangement, customers will be able to dispense petrol themselves, including at night, while making payments through digital platforms. Attendants will still be available to assist customers when necessary.
Dagazau also dismissed concerns that automation and self service pumps could result in significant job losses.
He explained that the transformation would create new roles around technology, automation, electric vehicle services and the integration of different energy systems.
According to him, the emerging energy hubs would require workers to operate and support the expanded range of services, potentially creating more employment opportunities than conventional filling stations.
NNPC Targets a Changing Energy Market
Huub Stokman, Managing Director of NNPC Retail, said the transformation reflects changes taking place in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum market following deregulation and the commencement of operations at the Dangote Refinery.
He said consumers are increasingly demanding quality petroleum products, competitive prices, faster services, digital payment options and alternative energy solutions such as electric vehicle charging and compressed natural gas.
Stokman also noted that the new Abuja facility is powered entirely by solar energy, reflecting the company’s growing focus on sustainability and cleaner energy solutions.
The Abuja station has a storage capacity of 180,000 litres of petrol and 45,000 litres of diesel, according to Shettima Baba Kukawa, NNPC’s Executive Director, Retail Operations and Mobility.
The planned rollout signals a broader shift in Nigeria’s downstream sector, as energy companies increasingly move beyond the traditional business of selling petrol to offering integrated services that combine conventional fuels, alternative energy, digital technology and electric mobility.
For motorists and other energy consumers, the expansion of smart stations could mean greater convenience, faster transactions and access to a wider range of energy services as the country’s fuel retail market continues to evolve.
