Ekpo Seeks Regional Action to Unlock Africa’s 600tcf Gas Reserves
Ekpo made the call at the Ministerial Roundtable on Regional Gas Development and Cooperation in Africa held in Abuja, which brought together ministers, stakeholders, development partners, and representatives of the World Bank.
He said Africa’s energy challenge is not rooted in a lack of resources, but in weak coordination, inadequate infrastructure, and poor collaboration among countries.
According to him, despite the continent’s vast gas wealth, more than 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity, while millions continue to depend on traditional fuels for cooking.
“While the continent holds over 600 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves, more than 600 million people still lack access to electricity, with millions relying on traditional fuels for cooking.
“This is not a question of resource availability, but one of coordination, infrastructure, and collective action,” he said.
Ekpo described natural gas as a key driver of Africa’s self-reliance, saying it can support industrialisation, improve energy access, and strengthen economic resilience across the continent.
He, however, stressed that no African country can fully harness the continent’s gas potential in isolation, noting that regional cooperation remains central to sustainable development.
The minister said Nigeria, which holds over 210 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves, is pursuing its “Decade of Gas” agenda to position itself as a regional energy hub through strategic partnerships with other African countries.
He pointed to major cross-border gas infrastructure projects already underway as examples of the gains of regional collaboration. These include the West African Gas Pipeline, Trans-Sahara Gas Pipeline, Nigeria–Equatorial Guinea Gas Pipeline, and the Nigeria–Morocco Gas Pipeline.
To unlock the full benefits of Africa’s gas resources, Ekpo identified four major areas requiring urgent cooperation.
He said African countries must move away from fragmented national gas systems and work towards integrated regional markets with transparent pricing, aggregated demand, and efficient cross-border trade frameworks.
He also called for expanded gas-to-power and clean cooking programmes to ensure that gas development directly improves electricity supply and living standards for citizens.
On financing, the minister advocated innovative and climate-aligned funding models, including blended finance, stronger private sector participation, and deeper collaboration with international development partners such as the World Bank.
Ekpo further emphasised the need for harmonised policy and regulatory frameworks across African countries to reduce investment risks and speed up project execution.
He cited Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) as a useful reference for countries seeking to strengthen investor confidence and improve regulatory certainty.
Describing natural gas as Africa’s “transition fuel,” the minister said it offers a practical pathway for expanding energy access, driving industrial growth, and reducing emissions intensity while supporting a just and inclusive energy transition.
He urged participants at the Abuja roundtable to ensure the meeting produces tangible outcomes beyond policy discussions.
According to him, the gathering should result in clearly defined areas of cooperation, identification of priority bankable cross-border gas projects, and institutional mechanisms to ensure implementation.
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Reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to continental energy integration, Ekpo said the country is ready to collaborate, invest, and provide leadership where necessary to help build an integrated African gas market.
He said Africa can transform its vast but underutilised gas wealth into shared prosperity if countries align their vision and coordinate their actions.
“The future of Africa’s energy lies not in isolated pipelines, but in connected systems, shared markets, and collective ambition,” he said.
