- Industry leaders called on Nigeria to fully adopt digital tools such as IoT, AI, blockchain, and automation to boost efficiency, cut costs, and enhance safety in the oil and gas sector.
- They argued that digital tools and policy reforms are critical to increasing production, attracting investment, and driving sustainable development.
Nigeria’s key oil and gas experts urged the country to adopt digital technologies to tackle complex challenges in the energy sector. They shared these insights at the Press Week Lecture and Symposium organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists and the News Agency of Nigeria Chapel in Lagos.
The event, themed “Transforming Energy: The Digital Evolution of Oil and Gas,” brought together specialists, media professionals, traditional rulers, and students.
The Chairman of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, Wole Ogunsanya, represented by Vice Chairman Obi Uzu, noted that oil production has risen to about 1.7 million barrels per day and could soon reach 2 million.
He said higher output would strengthen the naira and fund major infrastructure like railway networks without over-reliance on borrowing. Comparing Nigeria to Norway, he urged the country to save and invest oil revenues prudently rather than distribute them monthly.
Clement Isong, CEO and Executive Secretary of the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), represented by Ogechi Nkwoji, called urgent digital adoption to strengthen the downstream energy sector, which he described as the economy’s backbone.
He explained that digital tools could tackle price volatility, fraud, equipment failures, and environmental risks linked to ageing infrastructure and skill gaps.
Isong highlighted technologies such as IoT-enabled forecourt automation, remote pricing systems, AI-powered pipeline leak detection, terminal automation, predictive maintenance, blockchain for supply chain transparency, and cashless fuelling. He revealed that many MEMAN members already have advanced digitalisation, improving efficiency, safety, compliance, and workforce productivity.
Dr Muda Yusuf, CEO of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, stressed the need for policy reforms alongside digitalisation to attract investment, create jobs, and diversify revenue. He warned that without transparency and ESG compliance, Nigeria would struggle to remain competitive.
Energy lawyer Dr Ayodele Oni added that Nigeria must expand gas infrastructure and export innovations across Africa while using technology to monitor oil and gas facilities remotely. He cautioned that failure to evolve would leave the country behind as global markets shift to electric vehicles and cleaner fuels.
Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Company (SEEPCO) Head of Corporate Communications, Aveek Biswas, explained how the company deployed technology-driven platforms such as digital incident reporting systems, unsafe act reporting tools, safety tracking systems, and e-permit workflows. He said these tools enhance compliance, transparency, and responsiveness while aligning with global industry standards.