The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Dr Ekperikpe Ekpo, has said that Nigeria and other African countries must pursue energy transition strategies. These energy transition strategies should align with their local realities rather than externally imposed models.
Ekpo stated this on Wednesday during a ministerial panel session themed “Global Shifts: Navigating an Era of Diverging Priorities” at the ongoing 2025 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference.
He said that while Nigeria supports global efforts toward decarbonisation, such goals related to energy transition must not come at the expense of economic growth and development. According to him, the continent’s path to clean energy must remain “sequential, just, and balanced.”
“Our position is clear — Nigeria and Africa cannot decarbonise to poverty. We must be allowed to use our resources responsibly to ensure energy security, industrialisation, and sustainable growth,” he said.
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Ekpo noted that about 80 million Nigerians still lack access to electricity. Furthermore, more than 600 million people across Africa live without power. He added that millions continue to rely on biomass for cooking, which poses environmental and health risks.
He emphasised that natural gas remains central to Nigeria’s energy transition strategy. It serves as a low-emission fuel for power generation, industrialisation, transportation, and clean cooking.
The minister also highlighted ongoing efforts to expand renewable energy projects in regions where they are viable. Energy transition requires such efforts to complement gas utilisation while gradually reducing carbon emissions.
“Renewables are important to our energy mix, but they cannot yet sustain heavy industrial and power loads. We are therefore leveraging our abundant gas resources to power our economy and ensure a fair and inclusive energy transition,” Ekpo said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that global energy policies are shifting toward balancing sustainability with affordability and access. Energy transition strategies are evolving as nations adjust to maintain economic resilience and energy security.
