The issue is expected to dominate discussions at African Energy Week (AEW) 2026, where stakeholders will examine Nigeria’s energy reforms, gas development strategy and the expanding role of indigenous operators. Programme Director of African Energy Week, Ore Onagbesan, said African countries must move beyond simply producing energy resources and focus on investments that improve power supply, industrialisation and job creation. ADVERTISEMENTHowever, analysts note that the new owners are inheriting longstanding challenges, including ageing infrastructure, pipeline vandalism, environmental liabilities, financing constraints, regulatory bottlenecks and uncertainty in the domestic gas market. Despite Nigeria’s vast gas reserves, power plants and manufacturers continue to face supply shortages, forcing many industries to rely on costly diesel-powered generators. She also highlighted the importance of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline, describing it as a key project capable of expanding gas supply to power plants and industries across central and northern Nigeria.