By Tosin Kolade
Nigerian vitality consultants have referred to as for funding in domestically developed Artificial Intelligence (AI) applied sciences to enhance effectivity, scale back prices, create jobs and strengthen indigenous corporations’ competitiveness.
They made the decision on Thursday on the ongoing 2026 Emogas International Natural Gas-Based Industry Conference and Exhibition (EINGICE) in Abuja.
The name spotlight alternatives in commercialising native improvements and increasing gas-based industries.
Mr Bassey Rex, Chief Executive Officer, AfricEnergy and Infrastructure Ltd., and founding father of Ikwe-Onna Refinery Ltd., stated Nigeria had the technical capability to develop home-grown vitality applied sciences.
Rex stated the nation wanted stronger help for entrepreneurs to commercialise improvements and transfer from consuming imported applied sciences to creating and exporting domestically designed options.
“Africa has no shortage of talent. What we need is more companies, African-owned and African-built, that will turn that talent into products and services that people can pay for,” he stated.
He recognized predictive upkeep, pipeline inspection, challenge administration, emissions monitoring and gasoline distribution as areas the place AI, automation, sensors and information analytics might enhance vitality operations.
Rex stated domestically developed applied sciences ought to replicate Nigeria’s working situations, together with excessive temperatures, humidity, unreliable electrical energy provide and restricted connectivity in distant areas.
He defined that predictive upkeep might assist operators determine potential gear failures earlier than manufacturing disruptions, lowering unplanned shutdowns and upkeep prices in refineries and gas-processing amenities.
Rex advocated stronger collaboration amongst vitality operators, engineering companies, regulators, universities, analysis establishments and expertise entrepreneurs to develop and take a look at sensible options.
He urged operators to determine particular technical challenges, present startups with entry to pilot websites and related information, and set up clear pathways for profitable improvements to safe procurement contracts.
He additionally advocated improved entry to seed funding, grants and enterprise capital, alongside mentorship, technical partnerships and regulatory steering for entrepreneurs creating vitality applied sciences.
Rex urged engineers to concentrate on measurable operational challenges reasonably than creating expertise platforms with out clearly outlined prospects or industrial functions.
“Pick one problem, not a platform, not a revolution. One problem, one type of customer, one number you can improve,” he stated.
Similarly, Mr Felix Ogbe, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), stated native content material improvement ought to progress from participation to constructing globally aggressive indigenous enterprises.
Ogbe, represented by Mr Suleiman Ozimede, General Manager, Midstream Monitoring Division, stated the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act had expanded indigenous participation throughout a number of trade segments.
He listed engineering, fabrication, marine providers, manufacturing, logistics and data expertise amongst different areas the place Nigerian corporations had established a presence.
Ogbe stated the subsequent section of native content material improvement required strategic investments in human capital, expertise, innovation and institutional improvement.
He stated the NCDMB had supported indigenous corporations by financing interventions, together with the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund, a revolving mechanism designed to increase help to eligible companies.
Ogbe added that the Nigerian Content International Platform offered financing devices, together with asset acquisition and contract-related financing, to assist corporations overcome funding constraints.
He stated financing ought to help productive capability, expertise commercialisation, improved effectivity and sustainable job creation reasonably than be measured solely by the quantity disbursed.
Ogbe stated rising applied sciences had been creating alternatives in predictive upkeep, asset integrity administration, logistics, manufacturing optimisation, security and operational effectivity.
He stated the board supported digital expertise improvement in AI, machine studying, information analytics, Python programming and cybersecurity.
Ogbe additional stated that NCDMB’s Technology Innovation and Incubation Centre supported expertise analysis, mental property improvement, mentoring and trade linkages.
He urged indigenous corporations to export their providers, merchandise and applied sciences to different African markets, citing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a chance.
Mr Ismaeel Ahmed, Executive Chairman, Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG and EV), referred to as for better utilisation of Nigeria’s pure gasoline sources.
Ahmed, represented by Omoh Imokhuede, Head of Technical Training and Capacity Development, stated investments had been rising throughout the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) worth chain.
He recognized conversion centres, refuelling stations, automobile deployment, technical coaching and native meeting as areas creating enterprise and employment alternatives.
Ahmed stated expertise might enhance infrastructure monitoring, security, fleet administration, efficiency monitoring and funding choices, making the gasoline trade extra environment friendly and accountable.
He referred to as for better participation by non-public traders, researchers, producers, innovators and entrepreneurs in creating Nigeria’s gasoline trade.
Ahmed stated the aim was to translate the nation’s gasoline sources into reasonably priced transportation, new companies and broader financial alternatives.
In a presentation, Dr Stella Okene, Group Chief Executive Officer, Stelog Energy Group Ltd., referred to as for stronger AI-powered engineering capabilities throughout Africa’s vitality trade.
Okene stated African vitality corporations ought to transfer past native contract participation in direction of expertise possession and globally aggressive engineering experience.
She recognized native information infrastructure, AI-driven manufacturing forecasting, well-performance monitoring, predictive upkeep and geological information evaluation as priorities for enhancing competitiveness.
Okene additionally advocated technical coaching, partnerships with expertise suppliers and universities, and regional centres of excellence for analysis, coaching and certification as different areas deserving extra consideration.
She cited Stelog Energy Group’s collaborations with American expertise corporations, together with Honeywell, to strengthen AI-enabled wellhead monitoring, predictive upkeep and geological information evaluation for hydrocarbon exploration.
Okene stated African corporations wanted to construct technical experience and develop domestically related options able to competing in worldwide markets.
NAN stories that EINGICE 2026 introduced collectively authorities, trade and tutorial stakeholders to debate gasoline improvement, industrialisation and rising vitality applied sciences. (NAN)
Edited by Uche Anunne
