By Peter Omopo
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has called on African countries to strengthen financing structures and improve payment systems to unlock the continent’s vast gas potential and drive sustainable energy growth.
The appeal was made by the Executive Vice President, Gas, Power and New Energy, Mr. Olalekan Ogunleye, during a strategic roundtable organised by the African Oil and Gas Coalition at the ongoing Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda.
Speaking at the session themed “Gas without Cash: Breaking the African Monetisation Deadlock,” Ogunleye said Africa must move beyond identifying challenges and focus on developing practical and bankable solutions to address long-standing obstacles in gas monetisation.
The roundtable brought together energy executives and policymakers to discuss ways of attracting greater investment into Africa’s gas sector.
Ogunleye noted that Africa’s abundant gas resources remain largely underutilised due to weak financing frameworks and persistent payment challenges.
He stressed that dependable cash flow systems are essential for attracting long-term investments into the sector and called for stronger African-led financial structures tailored to local market realities.
According to him, reliable payment performance remains the foundation for sustainable gas commercialisation across the continent.
He warned that without trust in payment systems, large-scale investments in gas infrastructure and projects would continue to face limitations.
Ogunleye also highlighted Nigeria’s approach to the oil and gas sector, explaining that the country is adopting a value-chain strategy aimed at strengthening commercial viability and positioning Nigeria as a regional energy hub.
He said the strategy is designed to enhance regional energy integration and support broader economic development across Africa.
The Africa CEO Forum, currently taking place in Kigali, has attracted senior executives, investors and policymakers from across the continent and beyond to discuss issues surrounding regional integration, investment mobilisation and sustainable economic growth.
