African unity crucial to ending energy poverty, says Lokpobiri

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has urged African nations to unite in their efforts to end energy poverty and promote sustainable economic development across the continent.
Speaking at the opening of the Nigerian Pavilion—organised by the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN)—at the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, Lokpobiri emphasised the power of regional collaboration in unlocking Africa’s energy potential.

The 2025 PETAN conference is themed “Africa’s Energy Renaissance: Leveraging Innovation and Natural Gas for Sustainable Development.”

According to the minister, unity among African countries would enable joint investment in large-scale energy projects, lower infrastructure costs, and encourage shared access to innovation, best practices, and technical expertise. He warned that a fragmented approach to energy challenges would only deepen the continent’s energy deficit.

“This conference is not a jamboree. It is a platform for Nigeria, and by extension Africa, to showcase its vast potential,” Lokpobiri declared.
He highlighted the role of the Africa Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) in advancing collective solutions to the continent’s energy needs and announced ongoing plans to establish the African Energy Bank—a financial institution aimed at bridging energy funding gaps and ending reliance on external financing.

Lokpobiri disclosed that Afrexim Bank had committed nearly $14 billion in exposure, with an additional $5 billion earmarked as start-up capital for the new African Energy Bank. He noted that the bank is expected to become operational within the current quarter.

“This is an opportunity to let you know that your concerns are gradually being addressed,” he said. “We are urging African nations to repatriate overseas investments and direct them into the African Energy Bank to strengthen our energy security.”

Lokpobiri also voiced scepticism over the global energy transition agenda, describing it as “hypocritical” and disadvantageous to Africa. He expressed hope that the return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency could help challenge what he sees as a Western-led narrative that sidelines African interests.

During a bilateral meeting, Lokpobiri advised Ghana’s Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Mr John Abdullahi, to learn from Nigeria’s past reforms and missteps in the energy sector. Abdullahi, in response, praised Nigeria’s leadership role and expressed Ghana’s willingness to strengthen cooperation, especially in local content development and climate policy.
“We will continue to consult Nigeria as we build a successful oil and gas industry,” Abdullahi said.

Earlier, PETAN Chairman, Engr. Wole Ogunsanya, reaffirmed the importance of Nigeria’s participation in the OTC, describing it as a platform to position Africa as a key player in the global energy landscape.

“OTC 2025 promises to bring together top-tier industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders at the world’s largest energy event,” he said.

Ogunsanya traced Nigeria’s involvement in the conference back two decades, noting that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had tasked PETAN with spearheading the country’s presence at OTC to attract investment and forge strategic partnerships.

He also emphasised the need for Nigeria to deepen its capacity-building efforts and drive value creation across the entire oil and gas value chain.
The Nigerian Pavilion event was attended by top government officials, oil and gas stakeholders, industry exhibitors, and delegates from across West Africa.