Let’s be clear:
The future of energy is not a debate. It’s a direction. And the oil and gas industry must evolve not eventually, but now.The conversations around climate, sustainability, and energy equity are no longer confined to global conferences. They are shaping policies, investment flows, and public trust. And if we want to remain relevant not just as an industry, but as a country we must position ourselves decisively in the global energy transition.
This is not a threat to our existence. It’s an opportunity for reinvention.
And we cannot afford to waste it.
Oil & Gas Still Matters But the Rules Have Changed
Nigeria is a resource-rich nation. That’s a fact. But resources alone are not enough. The world is shifting toward low-carbon alternatives, and oil and gas must meet that world halfway.
Hydrocarbons will remain part of the global mix but not at any cost. Emissions must fall. Efficiency must rise. And innovation must drive every decision we make going forward.
We are not phasing out oil and gas. We are transforming how it’s done.
Four Ways the Industry Is Already Evolving
Let’s get specific. Here is where the transformation is happening and where we must double down:
1. Carbon Capture Must Be Standard Practice
CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilization & Storage) is no longer experimental. It is essential. We must embed carbon capture into upstream and midstream projects across Nigeria. Not in a few pilot zones across our operations.
Emission reduction is no longer negotiable.
2. Methane Management Must Be Aggressively Prioritized
Methane emissions are potent and damaging. Smart operators already understand this. If you’re not actively measuring, tracking, and mitigating methane today, you are behind. Technology exists. The data is clear. Excuses are irrelevant.
We must hold ourselves to higher environmental standards and enforce them.
3. Digitalization Is a Competitive Advantage Use It
In this era, data is as valuable as the product itself. If your operation is not digitalized, you are leaking value — daily.
AI-powered monitoring, remote diagnostics, predictive maintenance — these aren’t future tools. They are current business drivers. Nigerian operators, both private and national, must invest boldly in digital transformation or risk becoming obsolete.
4. Diversification Is a Strategic Move
Oil companies are now energy companies. That is not a slogan; it is a survival strategy.
Solar, wind, gas-to-power, hydrogen these are not threats to oil and gas. They are the future of energy portfolios. And Nigerian firms must begin positioning assets accordingly.
Waiting for global pressure is irresponsible. We must lead our own transition.
What Nigeria Must Do Now
Let’s stop outsourcing responsibility. We already have the talent, natural endowment, and regional leadership status. What we need is alignment and action.
Here is what we must commit to as a country:
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Accelerate domestic gas development as a bridge fuel.
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Establish enforceable emission standards across oil and gas zones.
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Create investment incentives for clean energy integration.
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Support local innovation in energy technology.
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Drive regional collaboration for shared infrastructure and energy security.
Energy poverty is still a reality in Nigeria and across Africa. A just transition means building solutions that prioritize both the environment and our people.
No More Waiting. The Time to Lead Is Now.
Let’s not pretend we have unlimited time. The global energy map is being redrawn and decisions made in the next five years will determine who thrives and who gets left behind.
Nigeria cannot afford to be reactive. We must be strategic. Assertive. Unapologetically ambitious.
We have the oil. We have the gas. We have the sun. We have the minds.
What we need now is direction and the courage to follow through.-
