Gas, the pillar of Africa's industrial renaissance: Nigeria shows the way

At the recent Gas Investment Forum in Lagos, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) reaffirmed the central role of gas in Nigeria's and Africa's energy security. Grace Orife, an advisory member of the AEC Board of Directors, emphasized that gas is not just a transitional energy source, but the cornerstone of the continent's industrial renaissance.

With 600 million Africans without access to electricity and 900 million deprived of clean cooking solutions , the continent's 620 trillion cubic feet (tcf) 210 tcf of proven reserves "Decade of Gas" initiative (launched in 2021) to stimulate its economic growth and attract investment.

“Gas powers our factories, provides raw materials for fertilizers, supports power generation, and creates jobs across the value chain ,” Dr. Orife said. She praised Nigeria’s progress, citing flagship projects such as:

• Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano and Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben gas pipelines ,
• NLNG Train 7 Extension ,
• Private initiatives such as the Assa North-Ohaji South (NNPC and Seplat Energy) and the Ubeta (NNPC and TotalEnergies).

By 2025, Nigeria has already attracted investors with $18.2 billion in commitments to the oil and gas sector, thanks to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2021. The country is also positioning itself as a leader in sustainable and low-carbon gas , with projects such as:

• UTM floating offshore LNG facility ,
• The burnt gas marketing ,
• The Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical .

Nigeria is also banking on regional infrastructure, such as the Nigeria-Morocco and Trans-Saharan and the extension of the West African gas pipeline , to strengthen its role in the continent's energy integration.

To realize this vision, Dr. Orife emphasized the need to:

• Strengthen partnerships between public and private actors,
• Revitalize policies to accelerate infrastructure development,
• Create attractive financing frameworks for global capital.

“Bold investments and deliberate execution are needed to unlock reserves, expand infrastructure and integrate value chains ,” she stressed.

The AEC, as the voice of the African energy sector, advocates for enabling environments and strategic partnerships . The upcoming African Energy Week (12-16 October 2025, Cape Town) will be a key platform to strengthen cooperation between African and global investors, with Nigeria as a model for growth.

About the AEC The African Energy Chamber (AEC) is a pan-African organization dedicated to promoting investment and innovation in the African energy sector. For more information, visit EnergyChamber.org .

Djami A.