Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has called on African countries to unite and form a strong regional partnership to develop the continent’s vast natural gas reserves. He warned that individual country efforts without coordination would not be enough to achieve sustainable growth in the sector.
Ekpo made this call in Abuja on Wednesday, June 19, 2025, during the 2nd edition of the Africa Gas Innovation Summit (AGIS) organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Council. The summit brought together energy experts, investors, policymakers, and private sector players from across Africa to discuss how innovation and regional collaboration can shape the future of the gas industry.
While delivering his address, Ekpo stressed that Africa’s gas revolution must be driven by a united continental strategy. According to him, isolated national policies and disconnected infrastructure plans cannot deliver the needed impact or scale to make gas a game changer for African economies.
“The resilience we seek in Africa’s gas economy must be continental,” Ekpo said. “That resilience must come from cross-border cooperation, harmonised regulatory frameworks, shared infrastructure, regional markets, and common financing platforms. A fragmented approach will not deliver the scale or the impact we desire.”
He also identified natural gas as a crucial “bridge fuel” for Africa’s energy transition. He explained that gas plays a major role in replacing more harmful energy sources like coal and firewood, while supporting industrialisation, power generation, and job creation.
“Natural gas remains that bridge fuel for Africa, a transition energy source that supports industrialisation, expands electricity access, fuels economic diversification, and mitigates emissions when replacing coal or biomass,” the minister stated.
Ekpo further highlighted Nigeria’s commitment through its “Decade of Gas” initiative, which is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He said the programme is focused on promoting domestic gas usage, boosting investments in infrastructure, and increasing supply for power and industrial use.
He mentioned specific projects like the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Penetration Programme, domestic gas supply policy reforms, and major pipelines as part of Nigeria’s strategy to unlock the economic potential of its gas resources.
However, the minister warned that progress would remain slow unless African countries move from talking to taking action. He said this is why partnerships between governments, private investors, and regional alliances are very important.
He made reference to ongoing major projects such as the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline, the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, and the West African Gas Pipeline. “These are not just pipelines; they are economic lifelines,” Ekpo said. “We must de-risk them through consistent policies, investor-friendly frameworks, and stronger political will.”
In her opening remarks at the summit, the Chairperson of the SPE Nigeria Council, Engr. Amina Danmadami, described the gathering as more than a conference. According to her, it is a serious call to action for the continent to take charge of its future in the global gas space.
“Africa’s gas sector is at a defining moment,” she said. “We possess abundant reserves, yet we must overcome legacy challenges: infrastructure gaps, fragmented markets, underinvestment, and policy uncertainties. The solution lies in innovation and collaboration.”
She noted that AGIS 2025 will explore key topics such as gas-to-power strategies, clean cooking solutions for homes, regional market integration, and the digital transformation of the gas sector. These efforts, she said, are aimed at making Africa a strong and competitive player in the global energy market.
Also speaking at the summit was the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Mr. Ahmed Galadima Aminu. He praised the summit’s focus on partnership and innovation, saying that PTDF is committed to supporting policies and projects that will build capacity and create a sustainable energy future.
“We are especially encouraged by this year’s focus on collaboration,” Aminu said. “PTDF remains a strong advocate for synergy among government, academia, and industry. We believe such partnerships are central to building a sustainable and inclusive energy future for Africa.”
The summit ended with a renewed call for African leaders and industry players to work together, speak with one voice, and put in place the structures needed to unlock the full value of the continent’s gas resources.
