‎Prof. Bart Nnaji to Lead 2025 Oriental News Nigeria Energy Summit‎

‎‎By Chioma Obinagwam
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‎As Nigeria pushes for energy efficiency with natural gas as a cornerstone of its energy transition strategy, industry leaders and stakeholders will convene to explore how the nation’s vast gas reserves can drive progress toward energy security and economic growth.
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‎Confiance News gathered that the 2025 Oriental News Nigeria Summit, hosted by STANMEG Communications, publishers of the influential Oriental News Nigeria Online, will feature the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) as the keynote speaker. The address will spotlight the critical role of natural gas in Nigeria’s transition to cleaner energy sources.
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‎The summit, chaired by Prof. Bart Nnaji, former Power Minister and Chairman of Geometric Power Limited, is themed “Harnessing Nigeria’s Gas Wealth for Strategic Energy Transition.” It will take place on July 24, 2025, at Radisson Blu, GRA Ikeja, Lagos, starting at 9 a.m.
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‎The summit will delve into key sub-themes:
‎- Strengthening Energy Security Through Optimized Gas Utilization.
‎- Assessing Regulatory Frameworks for Sustainable CNG Adoption in Nigeria’s Transport Sector.
‎- Fostering Local Content Collaboration Between the Insurance and Oil & Gas Sectors.
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‎Nigeria faces significant hurdles in meeting its energy demands, with only half of its 200 million population currently accessing reliable energy. With the population projected to double by 2050, achieving universal energy access remains a daunting challenge. The government aims to scale up gas production and utilization to fuel industrialization, enhance domestic energy supply for power, cooking, and transport, and boost revenue through exports. However, global pressures to shift to cleaner energy and reduce fossil fuel investments raise questions about the feasibility and sustainability of this approach.
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‎Oriental News Nigeria, a trusted voice in the nation’s media landscape, hosts its fourth annual summit to bring together policymakers, industry experts, and stakeholders to evaluate Nigeria’s gas initiatives. Despite reforms like the 2008 Gas Master Plan, the 2017 National Gas Policy, and the 2021 Petroleum Industry Act, which introduced dedicated regulators and improved infrastructure access, challenges persist. Weak regulatory frameworks, infrastructure deficits, non-cost-reflective pricing, and community conflicts continue to hinder investment in Nigeria’s gas sector, particularly in non-associated gas reserves, which make up half of the country’s total.
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‎The Decade of Gas Policy, launched in 2021, seeks to address these barriers to foster gas-based industrialization and reduce energy poverty. Additionally, President Bola Tinubu’s Presidential CNG Initiative aims to provide a cleaner, more affordable fuel alternative for transportation following the removal of fuel subsidies, which spiked transport costs.
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‎The summit will also focus on the transportation sector, which dominates Nigeria’s economy, moving over 90% of goods and passengers and contributing significantly to GDP. With an estimated 11 million vehicles on Nigerian roads, the sector’s reliance on fossil fuels like petrol and diesel makes it a major source of CO2 emissions. Globally, transportation accounts for roughly 20% of CO2 emissions, with surface transport being a key contributor. Transitioning to cleaner fuels like compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is critical to reducing emissions without undermining the sector’s economic contributions.
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‎Panel discussions will cover the following sub-themes:
‎1. Integrating Renewable Energy Policies with Gas Utilization in Power Generation.
‎2. Evaluating the Decade of Gas Policy and Comprehensive Gas Utilization Strategies.
‎3. Promoting CNG and LPG to Mitigate Emissions and Climate Impacts in Transportation.
‎4. Enhancing Local Content Synergy Between the Insurance and Oil & Gas Sectors.
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‎The summit promises robust dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders, aiming to advance Nigeria’s energy transition goals while setting a model for other nations navigating similar challenges.