Former Minister of Power and Chairman of Geometric Power Ltd., Prof. Bart Nnaji, is set to chair the 2025 Oriental News Nigeria National Conference, a major industry event focused on how Nigeria can better harness its natural gas resources to meet energy needs and transition to cleaner alternatives.
Scheduled for July 24, 2025, at Radisson Blu in Ikeja, Lagos, the conference will gather top stakeholders from the energy sector, government agencies, and policy experts. The Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) will deliver the keynote address, offering insight into how gas can play a pivotal role in Nigeria’s push toward sustainable energy.
The central theme of the conference is “Integrating Nigeria’s Gas Potentials Into Strategic Energy Transition Initiatives.” Discussions will revolve around how gas can support energy efficiency, reduce emissions, and enhance energy access for a growing population.
Key focus areas include:
Strategies for improving energy security through gas usage
Assessing the readiness of Nigeria’s laws and policies for widespread CNG adoption in transport
Opportunities for collaboration between insurers and the oil and gas industry
Reviewing the Decade of Gas Policy and its impact on Nigeria’s industrial goals
The summit comes as Nigeria continues to struggle with energy access—only about half of its citizens are connected to reliable power—and rising fuel costs following the removal of petrol subsidies. While gas is considered a cleaner and more affordable option, issues like poor infrastructure, weak regulation, and investor hesitancy have slowed progress.
Efforts such as the 2021 Petroleum Industry Act and the Presidential CNG Initiative aim to address these challenges, but the path forward remains complex. Nigeria’s road transport system, which moves over 90% of goods and people, is still heavily dependent on fossil fuels and is a major contributor to emissions.
The conference will also feature panel discussions on renewable energy integration, cleaner transportation solutions, and industrial gas usage. Participants will evaluate whether current policies are truly aligning with the country’s energy and environmental goals.
Now in its fourth edition, the Oriental News Conference has become a critical platform for energy dialogue in Nigeria. This year’s edition aims to produce outcomes that will guide more effective policies and potentially influence how other countries approach their own transitions.
