The Nigerian Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has called for a strategic shift in developing local content within Nigeria’s gas sector.
Speaking at the 9th Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES 2026), Ekpo emphasised that local content implementation must move beyond mere compliance to a performance-driven approach that strengthens industrial capacity and global competitiveness.
The Minister urged government agencies, industry operators, financial institutions, and training institutions to collaborate in driving measurable and results-oriented local content initiatives.
Ekpo described gas as central to Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan and industrial agenda, highlighting opportunities across power generation, clean cooking solutions, fertilisers, petrochemicals, and compressed natural gas.
“The Summit’s overarching theme, ‘Energy for Peace and Prosperity: Securing Our Shared Future,’ resonates strongly with the gas sector. Natural gas is critical not only for energy security and a pragmatic transition to lower-carbon systems but also as the backbone of industrialisation and economic resilience.
“For Africa, and particularly Nigeria, gas represents our most immediate, scalable, and inclusive pathway to economic diversification, industrial growth, and shared prosperity,” Ekpo said.
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He urged stakeholders to adopt practical frameworks, measurable outcomes, and scalable models to achieve inclusive and sustainable economic progress.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Patience Oyekunle, reiterated the need to evolve from compliance-driven to performance-driven local content that builds enduring industrial powerhouses.
Represented by Iren Ikemba, Oyekunle outlined four strategic priorities for this transition: strengthening indigenous capability and competitiveness, catalysing technology transfer and innovation, expanding high-quality employment, and deepening in-country value creation and ownership of value chains.
She emphasised that policymakers should design smarter incentives for capability and performance, industry operators must commit to genuine partnerships and technology transfer, financiers should back indigenous excellence, and local firms must pursue global standards relentlessly.
Oyekunle concluded that Nigeria’s approach to local content is increasingly focused on outcomes, competitiveness, and regional integration, urging stakeholders to engage in solution-oriented discussions and leave the summit with actionable commitments.