The Nigerian Government has reaffirmed its dedication to supporting initiatives that enhance the nation’s energy security and prosperity.
The Vice President of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima, represented by Sadiq Wanka, the Special Adviser to the President on Power Infrastructure in the office of the Vice President, made this statement during the First Nigeria Hydrogen Conference. This event was organized by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources in collaboration with the Foundation for Sustainable Social Responsibility in Emerging Africa (FOSSREA) and took place in Abuja.
In his keynote address, Shettima emphasized the importance of advancing Nigeria’s energy agenda, highlighting the need for innovative solutions to drive economic growth and development.
The Vice-President indicated that Nigeria’s energy transition plan has established an ambitious objective of achieving a net-zero economy by the year 2060.
The plan delineates a commitment to generating 9 GW of renewable electric power supply by 2030 while recognizing natural gas as a pivotal transition fuel in this endeavour.
Shettima asserted that hydrogen has become a significant fuel source for the future of Nigeria’s energy sector.
He pointed out that ” Given our vast natural gas and renewable energy resources as a country, the potential for hydrogen to meet our domestic energy demands, service our burgeoning Petrochemicals industry and reshape our energy trade through exports cannot be overestimated.”
Shettima emphasized the importance of fostering regional collaboration with neighbouring countries within the sub-region to facilitate the adoption of hydrogen as a sustainable energy source, thereby enhancing its viability for domestic application.
He remarked that partnerships with development agencies and other nations will facilitate the transfer of knowledge and garner the necessary investment to initiate a hydrogen economy in Nigeria.
In his address, the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas) Ekperikpe Ekpo said that Nigeria, blessed with abundant natural resources and human capital is positioning itself to become a key player in the global hydrogen economy.
The Minister emphasized the importance of fostering partinternships with other nations, while also highlighting that the country’s natural gas reserves, estimated at 206 trillion cubic feet, along with its substantial solar potential—approximately 2,000 hours of sunshine per year—provide an excellent foundation for the production of green and blue hydrogen.
He stated that the utilization of hydrogen presents a viable pathway for the transformation of the nation’s oil and gas infrastructure, converting challenges into opportunities.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Geoffrey Nnaji noted that the conference symbolized Nigeria’s commitment to sustainable energy and innovation.
He commended the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and Foundation for Sustainable Social Responsibility in Emerging Africa (FOSSREA) for their foresight, stating that hydrogen, often described as the “fuel of the future,” offered Nigeria immense potential to decarbonize energy systems, create jobs, and position itself as a leader in the global clean energy transition.
Nnaji further stated that achieving a hydrogen-powered future requires collective efforts.
“Together government, private sector, academia, and international partners can build the development of a pilot green hydrogen production plant being constructed by the Energy Commission of Nigeria, which will catalyze scaling up clean hydrogen technologies, by fostering research, innovation, and technology transfer,” he noted.
Earlier in his virtual address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources Nicholas Agbo Ella said that the National Conference on Hydrogen provides a platform for critical discussions on the technology, policy, financing, and infrastructure necessary to develop a robust hydrogen economy.
Ella informed the participants that the International Energy Agency (IEA) global hydrogen demand was approximately 94 million metric tons in 2022, with projections estimated that could reach between 500 and 700 million metric tons annually by 2050 if net-zero ambitions were to be realized.
In his remarks, the Chairman of FOSSREA, Aliyu Mijinyawa stated that the goal of the conference was to position Nigeria at the forefront of the global hydrogen economy, leveraging the clean energy solution to drive sustainable economic growth, energy security, and climate action.
Participants at the conference were drawn from local and international stakeholders in the Hydrogen Sector, the Oil and Gas Industry, Governments and Private Sector Agencies to explore the potential of hydrogen as a clean energy source, driving Nigeria’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
The conference was centred around the theme “Establishing a Hydrogen Economy in Nigeria.”
Lantana Nasir
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