NGA President pushes regional gas development agenda at Abuja ministerial roundtable
The President of the Nigerian Gas Association (NGA), Mr. Akachukwu Nwokedi, has called for accelerated regional collaboration to unlock Africa’s vast gas potential, following the successful conclusion of the Ministerial Roundtable on Regional Gas Development held in Abuja.
Mr. Nwokedi, who also serves as Regional Coordinator for Africa at the International Gas Union (IGU), made this position known during the high-level roundtable convened under Nigeria’s Decade of Gas initiative. The event was organised in partnership with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the World Bank, and hosted by the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas).
The ministerial roundtable brought together African energy ministers, policymakers, financiers, and industry leaders to advance a coordinated and investment-driven approach to gas development across Africa—positioning natural gas as a cornerstone for energy security, economic growth, and sustainable development on the continent.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Nwokedi emphasised that while Africa’s gas sector continues to evolve rapidly, fragmented national approaches remain a major barrier to growth. He stressed the importance of moving beyond isolated country-level strategies toward integrated regional gas markets that can unlock scale and efficiency.
He noted that natural gas remains a critical enabler for Africa’s development, with significant potential to drive industrialisation, support reliable electricity generation, expand access to clean cooking solutions, and facilitate a practical and inclusive energy transition.
Deliberations at the roundtable identified four key priority areas for advancing Africa’s regional gas agenda:
* Regional market integration
* Cross-border gas infrastructure development
* Financing and investment mobilisation
* Policy and regulatory harmonisation
Participants highlighted the urgent need to align policy frameworks with commercial realities, strengthen public–private partnerships, and deepen collaboration between African countries and global development institutions.
According to Mr. Nwokedi, Africa’s opportunity extends beyond its abundant gas reserves to include the development of strong institutional frameworks, enabling policies, and strategic partnerships required to unlock long-term value at scale.
The Nigerian Gas Association, a chartered member of the International Gas Union, reaffirmed its commitment to advancing regional gas development through sustained advocacy, investment facilitation, capacity building, and cross-border collaboration
