NCCC Endorses Gas as Africa’s Bridge Fuel
The National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) has renewed calls for African nations to adopt natural gas as a transitional energy source capable of supporting economic growth while the continent steadily advances toward a cleaner energy future.
Speaking at the Green Conference 2026 in Lagos, Director-General of the council, Omotenioye Majekodunmi, emphasised the need for a practical and balanced approach to energy transition in Africa. The conference brought together policymakers, climate specialists, and development partners to examine ways to align climate action with sustainable development goals.
Delivering her remarks at the event themed “Decarbonising Africa: Pathway to Climate Finance, Sustainable Growth and Green Economy,” Majekodunmi noted that Africa’s energy transition must reflect the continent’s development realities. According to her, reliable and affordable energy remains critical for industrialisation, job creation, and economic expansion.
She explained that natural gas could serve as a vital bridge fuel, enabling countries to reduce dependence on highly polluting energy sources such as coal and heavy fuel oil while renewable energy capacity continues to expand across the continent. By replacing these high-emission fuels with gas, she said, African nations could significantly lower greenhouse-gas emissions and improve air quality.
Majekodunmi also highlighted the continent’s persistent energy deficit, pointing out that hundreds of millions of Africans still lack access to stable electricity. She stressed that the central challenge for African governments is not simply transitioning to cleaner energy, but doing so in a way that simultaneously ensures energy security, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.
Nigeria, she added, holds a strategic advantage in this transition. With more than 600 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves, the country has the potential to harness natural gas as a key driver of industrial development while contributing to global climate targets.
The NCCC chief further revealed that Nigeria has already begun implementing a national framework aimed at decarbonising its oil and gas value chain. The initiative covers upstream, midstream, and downstream operations, and is designed to reduce emissions across the sector while supporting the country’s shift toward a more sustainable energy mix.
Established under the Climate Change Act, the NCCC serves as Nigeria’s central institution for coordinating climate policy and guiding the country’s transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy.
Experts at the conference noted that a balanced energy strategy—one that combines natural gas as a transitional fuel with accelerated investment in renewable energy—could help Africa close its energy gap while staying on course with global climate ambitions
