At the recently concluded Nigeria International Energy Summit, industry leaders, policymakers, investors, and stakeholders gathered to discuss the future of Nigeria’s energy sector amid the global energy transition and Africa’s growing demand for industrial development.
In this interview with The Valuechain Energy Magazine and TV, the President of the Nigeria Liquefied and Compressed Gases Association (NLCGA), Felix Ekundayo, shares his assessment of the summit, speaks on the urgent need for Nigeria to deepen gas-based industrialisation, and explains why reviving the country’s extensive pipeline infrastructure remains critical for economic efficiency and energy security.
A seasoned chemical engineer with more than 35 years of experience in the energy and gas industry, Ekundayo also serves as Chief Executive Officer of Asiko Energy and Gas Terminalling, where he leads strategic initiatives in gas infrastructure and energy solutions.
Excerpts:
For the purpose of this interview, kindly introduce yourself.
My name is Felix Ekundayo. I am the President of the Nigeria Liquefied and Compressed Gases Association (NLCGA). I am also a chemical engineer with over 35 years of experience in the energy and gas industry. Currently, I serve as the Chief Executive Officer of Asiko Energy and Gas Terminalling, where we focus on gas infrastructure development and energy solutions.
At the NLCGA, our focus is on promoting safety, improving regulation, and advancing the growth of Nigeria’s liquefied and compressed gases sector. Over the years, I have been deeply involved in the evolution of Nigeria’s gas value chain, and I remain optimistic about the future of the industry.
What is your general assessment of this year’s NIES summit compared to previous editions?
The Nigeria International Energy Summit has consistently maintained a high standard over the years. It is always very well organised, and the organisers continue to improve on the quality of engagement and participation.
One thing that stands out about this summit is that it enjoys strong institutional backing. Being a ministry-supported and government-promoted event naturally gives it visibility and credibility, and that translates into strong attendance from both local and international stakeholders.
This year’s edition has certainly not disappointed. Virtually every key stakeholder you would expect to interact with in the energy industry has been present: policymakers, regulators, investors, operators, financiers, and technical experts. That level of participation is important because energy development requires collaboration across several layers of the economy.
For me, the summit has once again proven itself as a strategic platform for serious conversations around Nigeria’s energy future and Africa’s broader energy ambitions.
Yesterday’s panel session, anchored by Professor Iledare, focused heavily on value addition in the energy sector. What is your perspective on what Nigeria, alongside other African oil-producing countries, can do to create more value from oil and gas resources?
That discussion is extremely important because it goes to the heart of Africa’s economic future. For too long, many African countries have remained exporters of raw resources while importing finished products at significantly higher costs. That model is no longer sustainable.
From my perspective, one of the biggest opportunities lies in developing gas-based industries. There are essentially two broad ways to utilise gas. The first is simply to burn it for power generation and direct energy consumption. While that is important, the second option is where the real economic transformation lies, using gas as feedstock to manufacture products and industrial materials.
That is where value addition truly begins. Nigeria has enormous potential in petrochemicals, fertiliser production, methanol, plastics, and several other gas derivatives. Instead of exporting raw gas or merely consuming it domestically for energy, we should be converting it into industrial products that can serve both Nigeria and the wider African market.
Nigeria is strategically positioned to become a manufacturing and export hub for gas derivatives across West Africa and the continent. We should be exporting fertilisers to boost African agriculture. We should be producing plastics and industrial materials locally instead of depending heavily on imports.
The good news is that we are beginning to see signs of progress. Industrial conglomerates and private investors are increasingly developing gas-based industrial projects across different regions of the country, not just in Lagos, but also in the eastern corridor and places like Akwa Ibom. That is encouraging because industrialisation cannot be concentrated in one region alone.
So, I would say this is a promising time for Nigeria’s gas sector, provided we sustain investment, improve infrastructure, and maintain policy consistency.
One of the discussions yesterday centred on transporting petroleum products and gas through pipelines. There were concerns that many of the pipelines have deteriorated significantly over the years. What can realistically be done to address that challenge?
Yes, I was part of that discussion, particularly around petroleum distribution pipelines. Some of the infrastructure has indeed deteriorated over time due to ageing, inadequate maintenance, vandalism, and years of underinvestment.
However, I do not think deterioration should become an excuse to abandon the pipeline system entirely. In fact, if you study Nigeria’s pipeline distribution map carefully, you will realise that the country possesses one of the most comprehensive petroleum products distribution networks in Africa.
I worked with parts of those networks over 20 to 25 years ago, and I can say confidently that the infrastructure was strategically designed to support nationwide distribution efficiently.
It would be unfortunate for Nigeria to simply throw in the towel and conclude that pipelines are no longer viable. Pipelines remain one of the safest, most efficient, and most economical means of transporting petroleum products and gas over long distances.
If we rely excessively on trucking, we increase pressure on roads, raise transportation costs, increase accident risks, and reduce operational efficiency. Pipelines, when properly maintained and secured, offer a far superior alternative.
What is needed now is a serious re-evaluation of the existing infrastructure. Government and industry players must invest in rehabilitation, modernisation, monitoring systems, and security enhancements to restore confidence in pipeline transportation.
I strongly believe Nigeria should return to large-scale distribution of products through pipelines because the long-term economic and safety benefits are substantial.
Finally, what would you identify as the major priority for Nigeria’s energy sector moving forward?
For me, the priority is very clear: Nigeria must aggressively pursue gas industrialisation. The country has abundant gas resources, and we must leverage them not only for domestic energy security but also for industrial growth, employment creation, and export development.
The future of the Nigerian economy cannot depend solely on crude oil exports. We need industries that create value locally. We need infrastructure that supports manufacturing. We need policies that encourage long-term investment.
If Nigeria can successfully combine gas infrastructure development, industrial expansion, and regional trade opportunities, then the gas sector will become one of the strongest drivers of economic transformation in the coming decades.
The opportunity is there. What matters now is execution, consistency, and commitment.