Felix Ogbe: Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Poised to Unlock Africa’s Energy Potential Through AfCFTA

Industry stakeholders must collaborate to fully utilize Nigeria’s energy resources and spur economic progress, according to Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

He said this in his keynote speech about the use of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) in the oil and gas industry at the 2026 ACFTA summit, which was organized by NCDMB, PETAN, and Legal Concierge and had as its topic Unlocking Africa’s Energy future through ACFTA.

Ogbe emphasized the significance of optimizing Nigeria’s energy potential, pointing to the nation’s substantial oil and gas deposits as well as renewable energy sources, while being represented by Dr. Abdulmalik Halilu, Director, Corporate Services, NCDMB.

He emphasized that industry, local content development, and energy security all depended on cooperative efforts.

Through programs including infrastructure development, technology transfer, and capacity training, NCDMB is dedicated to fostering the expansion of Nigeria’s energy sector, according to Ogbe.

He exhorted industry participants to seize sectoral possibilities and support the nation’s economic growth.

In his comments, the Executive Secretary reaffirmed NCDMB’s dedication to fostering the expansion and advancement of Nigeria’s energy industry. Rekindled conversations about how to unleash Nigeria’s energy potential and promote sustainable economic growth are anticipated as a result of his speech.

In order to influence the implementation of the AFCFTA in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry and achieve energy security and self-sufficiency for Africa, the summit gathered together academics, financial institutions, regulatory bodies, and project promoters.

Nigeria’s oil and gas sector has created a framework for domesticating the AFCFTA, he said, with an emphasis on capacity exports, capacity development, and opportunity discovery.

Preferential trade terms are advantageous to the nation because of its strengths in logistics infrastructure, refining capacity, and oil field services.

He pointed out that there are still issues, such as the need for uniform standards and laws and the obligations for exporters to comply.

Enhancing cooperation, developing technology, and instituting metrics to assess the effect of AFCFTA on Africa’s trade balance were the main topics of discussion.

Important issues were brought up, including how Nigerian goods may reach Angolan markets and how Ghana’s Tema shipyard could be designated as a regional center for building and repairing ships.

In order to influence the implementation of the AFCFTA in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry and achieve energy security and self-sufficiency for Africa, the summit gathered together government representatives, industry leaders, stakeholders, regulatory bodies, project promoters, financial institutions, and academic institutions.