Haitham Al-Ghais, Secretary General of OPEC, has called on African nations to unlock over 120 billion barrels of oil reserves through increased investment. Speaking at the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) 2025 in Abuja, he emphasized Africa’s vital role in the global energy landscape.
Al-Ghais highlighted the rising global demand for energy and stressed the necessity for significant investment to fully harness Africa’s oil and gas resources. He cautioned against adopting “misguided policies” that could hinder Africa’s energy development, citing the risks of arbitrary carbon reduction targets and other restrictive global energy policies.
He urged African countries to take a balanced and pragmatic approach to energy security, emission reduction, and expanding access to energy for underserved populations.
