Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has called on African nations to begin relying more on homegrown solutions to address the continent’s ongoing energy challenges. This message was shared in an official statement released by his Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Nneamaka Okafor.
The minister made the remarks during a high-level meeting with a delegation from South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, which was led by their Minister, Gwede Mantashe. The purpose of the visit was to strengthen bilateral energy relations, promote trade between both countries, and work towards joint strategies to meet Africa’s growing energy needs.
Senator Lokpobiri pointed out that Nigeria has made notable progress in recent years, especially under the current administration led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He explained that the country has expanded its capacity in the oil and gas sector, with local companies now stepping up to take control of assets previously owned by international firms.
According to him, developing local production and keeping resources within Africa is critical for long-term energy stability. He said that Africa must shift its focus inward if it is to overcome the persistent problem of energy poverty.
Minister Mantashe expressed strong admiration for Nigeria’s achievements in the energy sector. He noted that the South African delegation was eager to learn from Nigeria’s progress and also share ideas that could help both nations grow. He described the visit as an opportunity to build practical solutions that would not only serve Nigeria and South Africa, but also help reshape Africa’s energy landscape.
Discussions during the meeting covered a range of topics including the need to grow indigenous capacity, increase cross-border energy trade, and create a strong system for knowledge exchange between countries. Both ministers agreed that meaningful collaboration was essential to unlocking Africa’s full energy potential.
Senator Lokpobiri added that the two nations had much to gain by learning from one another. He said that partnerships like this could lead to higher oil production levels and stronger, more reliable energy systems that would benefit people across the continent.
The meeting ended with a joint commitment to set up working groups that will focus on shared investments, technology transfer, and regional energy integration. Both parties described the renewed alliance as a significant step toward building an African-led approach to energy solutions that are sustainable, practical, and focused on long-term success.
