At the 2025 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, Heineken Lokpobiri, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, called on African countries to unite in the fight against energy poverty across the continent.

Addressing an audience at the Nigerian Pavilion, Lokpobiri emphasized the importance of cohesive policies to tackle the escalating energy deficit.”This conference is not a jamboree,” said Lokpobiri. “It is a platform for Nigeria, and by extension, Africa—to showcase its vast potential.”

He warned that fragmented approaches would be ineffective, urging regional collaboration, particularly through the Africa Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO).

“The APPO is working to devise shared solutions to our energy challenges,” Lokpobiri added.Lokpobiri also spoke out against the global energy transition narrative, which he believes disadvantages Africa.

“The current global discourse on energy transition is driven by geopolitical interests that put Africa at a disadvantage.”In a bid to address funding gaps, Lokpobiri announced the establishment of the African Energy Bank, which will begin operations within the quarter.

“This initiative is a step toward addressing Africa’s energy challenges,” he stated, revealing that the bank will be capitalized with nearly $19 billion, thanks to partnerships with Afrexim Bank.

As part of the effort, Lokpobiri encouraged African nations to repatriate investments from abroad to bolster the bank’s resources.

He also shared advice with Ghana’s Energy Minister, John Abdullahi, urging Ghana to learn from Nigeria’s experience in energy development.The event highlighted Africa’s growing role in the global energy sector, with Nigeria continuing to lead regional efforts to enhance energy security and promote innovation.