Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Nigeria is shifting from participation to dominance in the global energy arena, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri has declared, issuing a blunt message to industry players: scale up or step aside.
“Nigeria is no longer just participating, we are positioning ourselves to lead,” Lokpobiri said in his closing remarks at NIES2026. “So when we say ‘scale up or step aside’, it is a clear message to every player in our industry as we look to the future, to deliberately build the nation.”
The minister described the 2026 summit as a turning point, citing the strong presence of Nigerian companies and professionals at the global gathering.
“The sheer scale of participation demonstrated not only commitment but also our growing influence in shaping conversations that matter across the global energy landscape,” he said.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he called steadfast support for the sector, alongside African leaders and global stakeholders whose contributions enriched discussions around energy transition, investment flows and production growth.
Lokpobiri reiterated the government’s ambition to build a “truly world-class energy centre that will bring the world to Nigeria,” positioning the country as a hub for innovation, capital mobilisation and cross-border collaboration.
“As this year’s summit concludes, we leave with a bigger picture and even greater expectations of a stronger, bolder, and more competitive industry ready to rise to the challenge,” he added.
Similarly, on the sidelines of the summit, Lokpobiri met with executives of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists, NAPE, led by its President, Ms. Olajumoke Cecilia Ajayi, where he flagged the urgent need to revive seismic activity across Nigeria’s basins.
“I have always said that for a long while, we haven’t had seismic works in decades,” he stated, underscoring concerns over outdated subsurface data.
He assured industry players that the Frontier Exploration Funds remain accessible and stressed the importance of sustained exploration campaigns.
“We must sustain periodic seismic works to keep updating our reserves, now expanded beyond previous records,” the minister said.
SweetCrude Reports noted that the minister’s comments signal a dual-track strategy: ramping up production in the short term while rebuilding Nigeria’s exploration pipeline to secure long-term reserve growth.
With global competition intensifying and capital becoming more selective, Lokpobiri’s “scale up or step aside” stance underscores a broader push aimed at repositioning Nigeria as a competitive, investment-ready energy destination.
