Regional Cooperation To Offer Africa Greater Energy Growth Advantage — NGA
By Naija Enquirer Staff
The President of the Nigerian Gas Association (NGA) and Regional Coordinator for Africa of the International Gas Union (IGU), Akachukwu Nwokedi, has called on African countries to pursue coordinated policy frameworks, shared infrastructure development and collective diplomacy to unlock the continent’s vast energy potential and translate it into inclusive prosperity.
Nwokedi made the call while delivering a goodwill address at the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) 2026, where he stressed that regional cooperation has become a strategic necessity as global energy politics grows increasingly volatile.
According to him, Africa must move beyond fragmented national approaches and embrace integration to gain scale, resilience and credibility in attracting investment and negotiating international partnerships.
“In a world where energy increasingly shapes geopolitics, fragmentation is a liability. Regional alignment gives Africa the scale, resilience, and credibility required to attract capital, manage volatility, and negotiate from a position of strength,” Nwokedi said.
Integration Key To Ending Africa’s Energy Paradox
Speaking during a high-level session on “Regional Oil & Gas Cooperation”, attended by government officials, investors, diplomats and industry executives, the NGA president warned that Africa risks remaining resource-rich but energy-poor if deliberate integration is not pursued.
He noted that millions of Africans still lack affordable and reliable electricity, despite the continent’s enormous oil and gas reserves, and described this imbalance as a major development failure that can only be addressed through shared solutions.
Nwokedi argued that Africa’s reserves are becoming increasingly significant amid shifting alliances, global supply chain disruptions and the growing use of energy as a diplomatic weapon.
He stressed that no African country can independently withstand market shocks, capital shortages or external geopolitical pressure without building stronger regional partnerships.
“Africa’s energy future will not be secured through isolated national strategies. Only through integration; coordinated policy, shared infrastructure, and unified diplomacy can the continent convert resource abundance into economic power and energy access,” he said.
Key Areas Of Opportunity For Africa
Nwokedi outlined major strategic opportunities that could deliver long-term benefits for the continent if regional cooperation is strengthened.
These include the harmonisation of regulatory frameworks to enable cross-border investment flows, as well as the development of interconnected infrastructure such as pipelines, LNG corridors, processing hubs and shared trading platforms.
He also called for stronger regional institutions capable of reducing project risks and mobilising international capital to finance large-scale energy infrastructure.
According to him, natural gas remains one of Africa’s strongest catalysts for industrialisation, job creation and universal electricity access, particularly as global markets seek cleaner transitional fuels.
Progress Signals Emerging Shift
Highlighting early progress, Nwokedi praised initiatives such as the West African Gas Pipeline, describing it as a model of how collaboration can support regional energy delivery.
He also pointed to Nigeria’s recently launched NNPC Gas Master Plan as evidence that African countries are beginning to embrace market-driven development and value expansion across the gas value chain.
He said such efforts demonstrate that strategic cooperation can turn energy resources into measurable economic outcomes, including improved infrastructure, industrial productivity and greater regional competitiveness.
Call For Urgency And Collective Action
Nwokedi concluded by urging African leaders and stakeholders to act with urgency and intentionality to ensure the continent emerges as a unified energy bloc capable of shaping global energy demand and delivering sustainable development outcomes.
His remarks reinforced the summit’s broader theme, “Setting the Agenda: Energy Diplomacy, Policy & Partnership for Prosperity,” and signalled to investors that the greatest opportunities lie in regional integration initiatives supported by the Nigerian Gas Association and its continental partners.
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