Natural gas has been identified as the key to unlocking Africa’s economic transformation, with experts urging policymakers and investors to treat the resource not just as a transition fuel but as a foundational pillar for sustainable development across the continent.
At the Sahara Group’s Asharami Square 2.0 energy forum held in Lagos on Friday, stakeholders from government, the private sector, and the media converged to highlight the transformative role of natural gas in addressing Africa’s energy poverty, boosting industrialisation, and achieving inclusive growth.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, his Senior Technical Adviser, Mr. Abel Nsa, lamented Africa’s chronic underutilisation of its natural gas wealth. According to Ekpo, the continent holds over 7% of the world’s gas reserves—with Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, and Mozambique as key players—but consumes less than 5% of global gas output.
“This mismatch between our vast gas potential and low consumption must be urgently addressed. Gas is not just a transition fuel—it is a transformational fuel. It can power industries, electrify communities, reduce emissions, and create jobs across value chains,” Ekpo said.
The minister called for bold investments in critical infrastructure such as pipelines, liquefaction plants, and gas processing hubs, adding that governments must also put in place risk mitigation frameworks to encourage private sector participation in gas projects.
Echoing this view, Dr. Justice Derefaka, represented by Mr. Frank Mmamelu from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), emphasised that gas development has far-reaching socioeconomic benefits, from powering irrigation in agriculture to improving clean cooking access for millions of African households.
“Natural gas can lift millions out of poverty, close the gender energy gap, and address pollution-related deaths in our communities,” Mmamelu stated.
He warned, however, that African countries must stop exporting raw natural resources without value addition. “If we don’t develop local refining and utilisation capacity, we’ll continue to export our wealth and import poverty,” he added.
The event also featured calls for the media to become active participants in Africa’s energy discourse. Dr. Adeola Yusuf, Publisher of Platforms Africa, urged media practitioners to demand access to credible energy data, highlight sustainability best practices, and hold stakeholders accountable.
“The media must sit at the energy transition table—not just as observers, but as enablers of transparency, innovation, and green accountability,” he said.
Ejiro Gray, Director of Governance and Sustainability at Sahara Group, stated that global discussions on sustainability often ignore Africa’s unique developmental needs.
“For Africa, the priority is access, equity, and inclusion. Gas presents a unique opportunity to meet these needs, especially in underserved and rural areas,” she said, highlighting Sahara Group’s current gas infrastructure projects in Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Senegal, and Tanzania.
Gray added that gas-fueled regional integration could accelerate the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) goals by enhancing cross-border energy trade.
The event concluded with the Asharami Awards, which recognized excellence in sustainability reporting. The PUNCH Newspaper received the award for Outstanding Sustainability Reporting. Others honoured include Vanguard Online, Arise News, and Nigeria Info 99.3FM.
Bethel Obioma, Head of Corporate Communications at Sahara Group, said the awards aim to inspire fact-based reporting that combats misrepresentation in the energy space. “The media has the power to influence policy direction and galvanise collective action for Africa’s energy future,” he said.
As Africa continues to grapple with energy inequality, the message from Asharami Square 2.0 was clear: gas is more than a transition fuel—it is the continent’s bridge to economic transformation, industrialisation, and shared prosperity.