Sahara Group, the energy company led by Nigerian billionaire Tope Shonubi, is setting its sights higher than ever. 

The group is planning to raise its crude oil production to 350,000 barrels per day within the next five years, powered by seven new oil rigs. This ambitious move shows Sahara’s growing influence in Nigeria’s upstream oil sector and its commitment to strengthening the country’s role in Africa’s energy future.

At the recent Africa Energy Week in Cape Town, Leste Aihevba, Chief Technical Officer of Asharami Energy Sahara Group’s upstream arm confirmed the development. According to him, two of the new rigs are already on Nigerian soil, while two more will arrive before the end of the year. 

The rigs, he explained, are key to Sahara’s plan not only to increase oil production but also to reach one billion standard cubic feet of gas per day.

“This expansion marks a major step forward for Sahara Group,” Aihevba said. “Our goal is to produce more energy responsibly while creating shared value for host communities and government partners.”

One of the new rigs, known as L-Buba, has already started drilling a gas development well, while another is being prepared for oil exploration. The rigs are operated by Arahas Global Oilfield Services, a Sahara subsidiary. 

This setup reflects the company’s strategy of investing across the entire energy value chain from drilling and production to logistics and power distribution.

Beyond oil, Sahara Group is also betting big on gas and cleaner fuels. In 2023, the company spent $142 million to acquire two large liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers. These vessels are helping Sahara supply cleaner cooking gas across Africa, reducing the region’s dependence on firewood and kerosene. 

Earlier this year, Sahara’s downstream unit, Asharami Synergy, signed a 31-year deal with Kenya Petroleum Refineries Ltd. to build a 30,000-metric-ton LPG terminal in Mombasa. The project is expected to boost LPG availability and affordability in East Africa.

The company’s growing partnership with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) also highlights its long-term goals. In May 2025, Shonubi and NNPC’s Group CEO, Bayo Ojulari, signed a landmark agreement to expand energy distribution networks and improve access to reliable power across Nigeria.

Founded in 1996 by Tope Shonubi, Tonye Cole, and Ade Odunsi, Sahara Group has evolved from a small petroleum trading firm into one of Africa’s leading energy and infrastructure giants. Today, it operates in over 40 countries and employs more than 4,000 people.