The chairman of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, Wole Ogunsanya, has urged African countries to strengthen local capacity and harness natural resources to secure their energy future amid global shifts.

Mr Ogunsanya said this in an interview with newsmen on the sidelines of the Offshore Technology Conference 2026 in Houston, Texas, U.S.

Mr Ogunsanya said Africa must take urgent steps to secure its energy future.

“The world is changing rapidly. Countries are becoming more regional in their economic and energy priorities. Energy security is now a major global concern,” he said.

Mr Ogunsanya pointed to major investments in shale gas in the U.S., Europe’s renewable energy push and China’s dominance in electric vehicle and battery technology as indicators of the changing global energy landscape.

According to him, Africa must leverage its abundant oil and gas resources to drive industrialisation, economic growth and energy independence.

Mr Ogunsanya said Africa holds more than 120 billion barrels of oil reserves and vast gas deposits, while Nigeria alone has over 200 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves.

He linked low energy consumption across Africa to poverty, weak industrial growth and lower life expectancy.

Mr Ogunsanya stressed that closing Africa’s energy gap was critical to improving living standards and creating opportunities for millions of young people across the continent.

He said PETAN had continued to promote indigenous participation and regional collaboration through the African Local Content Association. According to him, Nigerian firms now possess the technical expertise and operational experience needed to support energy projects across Africa.

Mr Ogunsanya credited Nigeria’s local content policy and the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act 2010 for strengthening indigenous capacity in the sector.

He added that many successful Nigerian energy companies emerged from decades of experience acquired while working with multinational firms.

Mr Ogunsanya also welcomed plans to launch the African Energy Bank in July 2026, describing it as a significant step toward financing indigenous energy development.

He reiterated PETAN’s commitment to promoting policies and partnerships that support local participation, technology transfer and sustainable energy growth across Africa. 

(NAN)