The Secretary General of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO), Omar Farouk Ibrahim, has urged Nigeria to expand its leadership in local content development and energy innovation beyond its borders to support the broader African oil and gas landscape.
Speaking at the 2025 Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Ibrahim called on both the Nigerian government and private sector to adopt a continental mindset, arguing that the nation’s deep expertise in oil and gas should be shared across the region.
“Why do you limit your production capacity and innovation to Nigeria? Why not extend it to Gabon, Congo, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Angola, or Mozambique? You have the capacity don’t box it within borders,” Ibrahim said, according to a statement issued by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
Drawing on his experience advising four successive Nigerian petroleum ministers between 2009 and 2020, Ibrahim noted that several African countries looked to Nigeria as a model for oil and gas development. He said the time has come to reclaim and expand that leadership role.
Rethinking Ownership and Regional Integration
Ibrahim also challenged Nigerian entrepreneurs to reconsider traditional ownership models in pursuit of cross-border expansion.
“If you want to expand to Zimbabwe, why not cede 5% of your company’s shares to locals there to gain market access? This ‘I own it all’ mentality won’t take us far. Even global giants like Shell, Total, and BP don’t operate with full national ownership,” he said.
He emphasized that APPO’s current strategy is built around creating an integrated African energy market, where innovation, cooperation, and shared resources drive sustainable growth.
“We are working to establish regional centers of excellence,” he revealed, naming Nigeria as a strong candidate for one of these hubs due to its well-established record in training and human capacity development.
Africa Energy Bank Set for Launch
In a landmark announcement, Ibrahim disclosed that the Africa Energy Bank, a joint initiative between APPO and AfreximBank, is set to launch in Abuja within the next two months. The new institution aims to reduce Africa’s dependence on Western financing for energy projects.
“We have the charter, the agreement, the treaty and most importantly, the capital. For 70 years, Africa has produced energy for others. Now is the time to produce energy for ourselves, for our people,” he declared.
Nigeria’s Global Recognition in Local Content
Ibrahim lauded the NCDMB for its growing continental influence, noting that the board’s performance led to a special request from the Congolese government for it to join the Africa Local Content Roundtable’s steering committee, scheduled for September 2025.
“I feel proud as a Nigerian that Congo made this request. The world sees you as a leader please sustain that perception. Africa cannot move forward without energy, and Nigeria must lead from the front,” he said.
