Mr. Oluwole Asalu, Managing Director of Zamam Offshore Services, called for stronger financing and infrastructure investment. He made the remarks during a panel at Lagos Energy Week.
Asalu emphasised that Nigeria’s gas sector faces supply reliability issues due to infrastructure gaps. He explained that demand for gas is high, but delivery remains the core challenge.
“These infrastructures are capital-intensive and require major funding to operate efficiently and reliably,” he noted. Legacy infrastructure also continues to shape current operational limitations.
Technology adoption, Asalu added, is key to improving transparency and operational efficiency in the gas value chain. Digital systems enable regulators to monitor compliance and enhance accountability across operations.
Financing, he said, is the decisive lever to accelerate ESG-aligned gas development in Nigeria. Access to capital increasingly depends on alignment with environmental, social, and governance standards.
Mr. Frank Umole, Managing Director of Axxela GMI, highlighted that the sector’s bottleneck is not demand but capital structure. Midstream infrastructure development requires significant investment that often mismatches investor expectations and timelines.
Asalu further stressed the importance of talent development within Nigeria’s energy ecosystem. Zamam Offshore Services champions local content advancement and provides structured exposure to young engineers.
He explained that deliberate steps to build talent deepen competencies and drive sustainable energy development. Developing skilled personnel is crucial for long-term domestic gas expansion.
By combining finance, technology, and human capital development, Nigeria can unlock its vast gas potential. These strategies are essential for sustainable energy growth and operational efficiency.
Asalu concluded that a coordinated approach across funding, infrastructure, technology, and talent is critical to fully harness Nigeria’s domestic gas resources.
