For a decade and a half of its three decades of existence, Oilserv Limited has stood at the forefront of Africa’s oil and gas renaissance, translating visionary ambition into tangible infrastructure and innovative solutions. As the only indigenous contractor to sustain 15 consecutive years of sponsorship at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) through PETAN, Oilserv has not merely supported dialogue, it has shaped the trajectory of the continent’s energy transformation. From landmark pipelines to cutting-edge digital oilfield initiatives, Oilserv’s enduring pledge to excellence underscores Nigeria’s and indeed Africa’s emergence as a global energy powerhouse.

Nigerian Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has urged African nations to unite in the fight against energy poverty. He emphasised that by working together, African countries can overcome energy poverty, drive economic growth, and improve the lives of millions of people. Lokpobiri made the call during the opening ceremony of the Nigerian Pavilion hosted by the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, U.S. The theme of the 2025 PETAN conference is: “Africa’s Energy Renaissance: Leveraging Innovation and Natural Gas for Sustainable Development”.

He emphasized the importance of regional collaboration, highlighting the Africa Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) as a strategic entity established to devise shared solutions for the continent’s energy challenges. He also expressed his approval of Donald Trump’s return as U.S. President, suggesting it could help decelerate the “hypocritical” global energy transition narrative. In response, APPO is in the process of establishing the African Energy Bank to bridge funding gaps and free the continent from energy poverty. Lokpobiri called on African nations to repatriate investments held overseas and channel them into the African Energy Bank to bolster the continent’s energy security.

In a parallel session, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has urged coordinated efforts to unlock the country’s substantial natural gas reserves. Speaking at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Ekpo emphasized the importance of strategic deployment of Nigeria’s over 210 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas to drive sustainable development, industrialization, job creation, and energy security. He applauded PETAN’s efforts to promote Nigerian innovation globally and emphasized the Decade of Gas initiative, championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, as central to Nigeria’s energy transformation agenda. 

The government is investing in infrastructures such as pipelines, processing plants, and distribution networks to enhance gas accessibility across power generation, manufacturing, transportation, and households. He also mentioned policy incentives for industries like fertilizer production and the development of modular gas hubs. He continued that innovations such as Floating LNG and regional projects like the Nigeria–Equatorial Guinea Gas Pipeline are being advanced to monetize stranded gas and expand export capacity. Ekpo also urged indigenous companies to play a leading role in the energy sector, asserting that Nigeria’s gas future belongs to local entrepreneurs as much as multinational players.