Nigeria needs collaboration to fix energy sector challenges- SPE

THE Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Nigerian Council, has called for collaborative efforts in addressing the challenges and opportunities facing Nigeria’s energy sector.

In a compelling address at the opening ceremony of the 2024 edition of Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Forum (OLEF), Salahuddeen Tahir, the chairman of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Nigerian Council, highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing Nigeria’s energy sector challenges and emphasized the role of the Oloibiri Lecture and Energy Forum (OLEF) Series as a beacon of knowledge, innovation, and progress in the industry.

“This year’s forum focuses on the theme; Stability in the Nigerian Energy Sector: Integrated Strategies for Infrastructure, Transportation, and Security, which underscores the imperative of cohesive efforts to address challenges and harness opportunities in Nigeria’s dynamic energy landscape,” Salahuddeen Tahir, Chairman, SPE, Nigerian Council, said.

“Stability in the energy sector is paramount for sustaining economic growth, ensuring national security, and promoting environmental sustainability”, Tahir added.

Tahir also used the opportunity to express SPE Nigerian Council’s support for country’s candidacy to host the headquarters of the African Energy Bank, citing the Nigeria’s potential and leadership in the energy sector.

In his keynote speech, Mele Kyari, the group chief executive officer of NNPC Limited, emphasised the critical importance of bridging the energy access gap to the creation of economic prosperity of the country. To bridge the energy access gap in Nigeria, Kyari said NNPC Ltd was working on developing the right infrastructure to deliver oil and gas to drive prosperity for Nigerians.

“We are committed to developing gas infrastructure across the country,” Kyari stated, stressing that the company’s commitment was not just a statutory requirement of the Petroleum Industry Act, but a pledge to ensure energy security beyond fuel supply.

“We are dedicated to investing in critical infrastructure to enhance economic prosperity by supplying gas to the domestic market, targeting at least 8 billion cubic meters,” Kyari added.