- Abia State Governor Alex Otti has called for a coordinated regional energy strategy to drive industrialisation across Nigeria’s South-East.
- The proposal centres on resource optimisation, infrastructure investment, and market-driven energy planning.
Governor Alex Otti has called for a coordinated regional energy strategy to drive industrialisation across Nigeria’s South-East. He delivered this message during an address titled Powering Industrialisation in the South-East: The Case for a Regional Energy Strategy at the South East Vision 2050 Regional Stakeholders’ Forum held on February 4, 2026 at the International Conference Centre, Enugu.
He proposed a broad energy industry strategy built on three connected pillars. These pillars include resource identification and optimisation, sustained investment in critical energy infrastructure, and adoption of the right market outlook. In addition, he said the model must prioritise value creation, customer satisfaction, and fair outcomes for all stakeholders.
According to him, resource identification and optimisation form the foundation of the framework. Specifically, this phase involves identifying, documenting, mapping, and activating all conventional and renewable energy sources across the region. Consequently, governments can build a data-driven regional energy development plan.
He stressed that industrial-scale energy sufficiency depends on understanding the true size and strength of regional energy resources. Therefore, governments must develop clear pathways to measure and deploy available energy assets effectively.
To illustrate the region’s potential, he cited several resource advantages. For example, he said Imo State holds one of the largest natural gas reserves in West Africa, estimated in trillions of cubic feet. Similarly, Abia, Imo, and Anambra States contain significant crude oil deposits.
Meanwhile, Enugu and nearby Ebonyi State hold large untapped coal deposits. In addition, the region has strong renewable energy potential through solar, hydropower, and biomass resources. He also highlighted untapped gas deposits in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State, particularly around Owaza, where the Abia Industrial Innovation Park is located.
He maintained that the South-East has sufficient resources to support a comprehensive regional energy plan. However, he warned that resource potential alone will not deliver results. Instead, governments must implement deliberate and coordinated strategies to unlock industrial-scale energy production.
He concluded that discussions must translate into action. Therefore, policymakers and investors must move beyond projections and implement practical energy development programmes across the region.