The Federal Government has urged African nations to abandon isolated energy strategies and embrace collective action to harness the continent’s vast natural gas resources. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, issued the call during the 2nd Africa Gas Innovation Summit (AGIS) 2025, held in Abuja by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Council.
Speaking through his Technical Adviser on Downstream, Abel Igeghe, Ekpo stressed that fragmented national plans will not deliver the scale of transformation Africa needs. Instead, he advocated for cross-border cooperation, harmonised regulations, shared infrastructure, and regional financing frameworks.
“Africa must define its own path—just, equitable, and context-specific—on the road to energy transition. Natural gas remains the most viable bridge to industrialisation and sustainable development,” Ekpo said.
He highlighted Nigeria’s “Decade of Gas” initiative as a model for gas-driven prosperity, citing ongoing reforms in LPG penetration, domestic supply, and major pipeline projects like the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline and Trans-Saharan Gas initiatives.
Calling for innovation as the “heartbeat of sustainability,” he urged investment in home-grown solutions, local R&D, and youth-led digital energy startups.
Meanwhile, African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation Secretary General, Dr. Umar Farouk, criticised Africa’s over-reliance on energy exports. Despite hosting some of the world’s largest energy reserves, the continent still exports 45% of its gas and 75% of its crude oil, while half of its population lacks modern energy access.
“We’ve been conditioned to believe we are too poor to consume our own resources. This mindset has fuelled inequality,” Farouk said. He warned that of the $89 billion needed for oil and gas development in Africa, only $4 billion has been committed—calling it a major bottleneck.
SPE Nigeria Council Chairperson, Amina Danmadami, framed the summit as a call to action. “Africa holds abundant gas reserves but must address legacy issues: infrastructure gaps, policy fragmentation, and underinvestment. The answer lies in innovation and unity.”
Also speaking, PTDF Executive Secretary, Ahmed Aminu, reaffirmed the Fund’s support for collaboration between government, academia, and industry to develop a resilient and inclusive energy sector.
