Lokpobiri Pushes for Regional Energy Integration to Slash Africa’s $120bn Import Burden
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has called on African nations to deepen regional cooperation in the energy sector as a pathway to cutting the continent’s staggering $120 billion annual import bill.
Speaking at the Africa Oil Week (AOW) 2025 Ministerial and CEO Leadership Forum in Accra, Ghana, Lokpobiri stressed that stronger collaboration among African countries is central to ending energy poverty and unlocking shared prosperity.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Nneamaka Okafor, the Minister underscored the need for shared infrastructure, harmonized standards, and pooled technical expertise, describing Africa’s dependence on hydrocarbon imports as a massive drain on resources.
“This is capital flight,” he said. “The funds leaving our shores should be redirected to drive Africa’s own development priorities.”
Lokpobiri argued that Africa’s challenge lies not in a lack of investment, but in fragmented regulatory and fiscal frameworks that discourage long-term commitments. “Investors value stability and predictability. For Africa to attract and retain capital, we must align our policies and create a unified market environment,” he explained.
Highlighting Nigeria’s leadership, the Minister unveiled the West African Reference Market (WARM) — a regional initiative designed to leverage Nigeria’s growing refining capacity to supply petroleum products across West Africa and beyond.
On the global energy transition, Lokpobiri maintained that Africa must prioritize energy access over external pressures to abandon fossil fuels. “The Paris Agreement calls for emissions reduction, not the abandonment of hydrocarbons,” he noted. “Africa contributes only 3% of global CO₂ emissions. We cannot lead an energy transition when we don’t even have energy. Our task is to responsibly harness our abundant resources to power sustainable growth.”
