NNPC Launches Nigeria's First Self-Service Smart Filling Station, Targets 70 Nationwide
NNPC has unveiled Abuja's first fully smart, self-service filling station and plans to roll out up to 70 similar energy hubs across Nigeria within six months.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd. has inaugurated Abuja's first fully smart, 24-hour self-service filling station, marking a major shift in how motorists could buy fuel as the company begins transforming traditional petrol stations into technology-driven energy hubs.
The flagship facility, located along Bill Clinton Drive on Airport Road in Abuja, allows customers to dispense petrol themselves using the NNPC Retail mobile application, while also offering electric vehicle charging, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), diesel, automated car wash and vehicle servicing in one location.
Speaking at the commissioning, NNPC Executive Vice President for Downstream, Mumuni Dagazau, said the Abuja station is the first of a nationwide rollout that will see between 50 and 70 smart stations established over the next six months. According to him, the company is moving beyond the conventional filling station model to create integrated energy centres that serve multiple mobility needs.
Unlike traditional forecourts where attendants handle fuel dispensing, the new station enables motorists to complete transactions digitally. Customers can fund a wallet through the NNPC Retail app, purchase fuel and dispense the exact quantity themselves, although staff will remain available to assist users who prefer conventional service.
The station is powered by a solar energy system exceeding 200 kilowatts and features six fast EV charging points capable of charging compatible electric vehicles in roughly 30 to 40 minutes, alongside 16 petrol pumps and dedicated diesel dispensing units. NNPC officials say compressed natural gas (CNG) conversion facilities will also be added as part of the broader clean-energy strategy.
The initiative comes as Nigeria's downstream petroleum sector undergoes rapid transformation following fuel subsidy removal and increased competition in refining and retail fuel distribution. NNPC Retail Managing Director Huub Stokman said consumers are increasingly demanding faster service, digital payment options and access to alternative energy solutions, making innovation essential for the company's future retail network.
Dagazau also dismissed concerns that automation would eliminate jobs, arguing that the expanded services offered by smart energy hubs, from EV charging and gas dispensing to digital customer support, would require a larger and more skilled workforce rather than fewer employees.
For NNPC, the Abuja launch is more than a new filling station; it is the beginning of a nationwide retail overhaul. If successfully deployed, the planned network of smart energy hubs could redefine Nigeria's fuel retail experience by combining petrol, gas, electricity and digital services in a single destination, reflecting the country's gradual transition toward a more diversified energy future.