Abuja, June 2, 2026 — Energy insecurity continues to pose a significant challenge to industrialisation, economic development and improved living standards in Nigeria and across Africa, according to the Managing Director of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Ltd., Mr Tony Attah.
Attah, who was represented by the company’s Vice President for Relations and Sustainable Development, Mr Igo Weli, made the remark on Tuesday in Abuja during an Oil and Gas Seminar organised by the company in collaboration with the Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN). The event drew participation from senior government officials and directors from various ministries and agencies.
He explained that access to stable and affordable energy remains fundamental to productivity, business growth and national development, noting that millions of people across the continent still lack reliable energy supply.
According to him, energy reliability is essential for small businesses and enterprises, stressing that poor electricity access forces many operators to rely heavily on expensive alternatives such as diesel generators, thereby increasing production costs.
Attah reaffirmed the company’s commitment to addressing Africa’s energy challenges and supporting long-term industrial growth, describing Renaissance Africa Energy as a Nigerian-founded organisation with a broader continental vision.
“We are built in Nigeria but focused on Africa. Our ambition is to become a leading energy player on the continent and contribute meaningfully to solving energy security challenges,” he said.
He added that expanding energy access is critical to driving industrialisation, job creation and sustainable economic growth, expressing concern over rising unemployment, particularly among young graduates entering the labour market each year.
He noted that stronger industrial development is needed to absorb the growing number of job seekers and reduce unemployment pressures.
On gas development, Attah disclosed that the company plans to significantly increase domestic gas supply from about 185 million standard cubic feet per day to one billion standard cubic feet per day by 2030.
He said boosting domestic gas utilisation would support industrial expansion and complement major infrastructure projects such as the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) gas pipeline.
While acknowledging the revenue potential of gas exports, he stressed that prioritising domestic utilisation would have a stronger impact on national industrialisation and economic development.
In his remarks on the partnership with PSIN, Mr Weli said the collaboration was designed to strengthen capacity building and improve understanding between public institutions and the private sector.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, also emphasised the importance of collaboration between government and industry in driving national development.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Patience Onyekunle, she said the oil and gas sector remains central to Nigeria’s economic growth, revenue generation and industrial progress.
She urged public servants to continuously improve their knowledge of key economic sectors in order to support effective policymaking and regulatory oversight.
According to her, exposure programmes such as the seminar help bridge the gap between government and industry while encouraging stronger cooperation in policy implementation.
The Administrator of PSIN, Mrs Imeh Okon, said the seminar was designed to deepen participants’ understanding of the energy sector and its role in national development.
She noted that closer collaboration with the private sector would help public servants better understand the impact of government policies on business operations and investment decisions.
A participant, Mrs Rofikat Odetoro, Director in the Federal Ministry of Environment, commended the initiative and called for structured retirement planning programmes for senior civil servants nearing retirement.
She said such programmes would help officers better prepare for life after service and reduce uncertainty around post-retirement transition.
The seminar brought together participants from federal ministries, departments and agencies, as well as representatives of security agencies including the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Service and Nigeria Customs Service.