The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has called for regional collaboration and innovation to build a resilient African gas economy.

Speaking during the Africa Gas Innovation Summit (AGIS) 2025 in Abuja, Ekpo said Africa must overcome infrastructure and policy challenges to fully harness its gas resources.

“Africa is blessed with natural gas, yet we face challenges that hinder its use for inclusive and sustainable growth. Gas remains a transition fuel for Africa. It supports industrialisation, electricity access, and economic growth.”

He said Nigeria’s “Decade of Gas” initiative under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda was focused on expanding domestic gas use across power, transport, cooking, and industry with advanced infrastructure rolled out for LPG penetration programme and deepened supply reforms.

Ekpo said national efforts must be complemented by regional cooperation.

He cited the Nigeria-Morocco and Trans-Saharan pipelines as projects that require stable policies and strong political will.

The Chairperson of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Council, Engr. Amina Danmadami, said the summit was convened to push collaboration and innovation across the gas sector.

She noted that Africa’s gas sector faced challenges including infrastructure gaps and policy uncertainty.