NGA pushes regional gas collaboration to unlock Africa’s potential

The President of the Nigerian Gas Association, Akachukwu Nwokedi, has called for stronger collaboration among African countries to accelerate the development of gas resources across the continent.

Nwokedi, who also serves as Regional Coordinator for Africa at the International Gas Union, made the call following a ministerial roundtable on regional gas development held in Abuja under Nigeria’s Decade of Gas initiative in partnership with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the World Bank.

A statement by the NGA disclosed that the meeting brought together African energy ministers, policymakers, financiers, and industry leaders to advance a coordinated framework for gas development across the continent.

Speaking on the evolving gas landscape in Africa, Nwokedi stressed the need to dismantle fragmented national approaches that hinder the emergence of integrated regional markets.

He said, “While Africa’s gas landscape is evolving rapidly, the key challenge lies in overcoming national silos and approaches toward integrated regional markets.”

He also highlighted the strategic role of gas in driving economic growth and supporting Africa’s energy transition agenda.

According to him, “gas remains a strategic enabler for Africa, driving industrialisation, supporting reliable power generation, expanding clean cooking access, and enabling a pragmatic energy transition.”

Nwokedi further noted that discussions at the roundtable focused on key areas necessary to accelerate development, including market integration, infrastructure expansion, financing, and regulatory alignment.

He added, “Africa’s opportunity lies not only in its resource base but also in building the institutional, policy, and partnership frameworks required to unlock value at scale.”

The association reaffirmed its commitment to advancing regional gas development through advocacy, investment facilitation, capacity building, and strengthened collaboration across African markets.