My people! Big news don land for our energy sector! Africa dey ready to flex muscle for oil and gas matter with $10 billion wey African Energy Bank wan mobilize. E be like say our future dey shine bright like light bulb, wey go fit power every part of the continent.
Na Farid Ghezali, wey be Secretary-General of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation, carry this sweet gist waka come Abuja during the 9th Nigeria International Energy Summit. This particular event bring together plenty big men and women wey sabi oil matter, from both government and private sector, to reason how we fit take sustainable energy dey power our industries.
According to Ghezali, dem go first focus on countries like Nigeria, Angola, and Libya. Dem wan use this fund fix plenty projects wey don dey on hold, create jobs, and attract investors wey dey look for where to put their money.
Ghezali talk say, “Energy na the engine wey go drive peace and prosperity for Africa. Wey no fit just free our resources, but we also want make dem sabi how to turn am into better life for our people.” Na true talk be that o! If we no fit utilize wetin we get, na who go help us? We go just dey waste our natural resources, even as we dey lose $15 billion every year!
Dem dey plan how this African Energy Bank go start in Abuja by the middle of 2026. And when e launch, e go be like masive move wey go bring together different nations for one platform. Ghezali dey super optimistic. He talk say, “We go connect certified projects to global sovereign wealth funds. By 2030, this bank fit add as much as $200 billion into our midstream and downstream projects.” We like the sound of that!
On the matter of investors, Ghezali don call dem out. E don tell both local and international investors make dem dey shine their eyes well, because plenty opportunities dey land soon. This bank go provide structured finance to help bring down the high costs wey dey cause all our wahala.
As Ghezali yarn, “Our financing cost dey high for Africa. For some cases, e dey range between 15-20%, while Asia dey enjoy 4-6%. This one no gree help us at all!” Na so the African Energy Bank go enter like solutions-wey-cry-for-help, to correct all the wrongs wey don happen before.
Anibor Kragha wey be Executive Secretary of the African Refiners & Distributors Association no dey slack too! E don talk say this is the time for Africa to take charge of its energy sector. The more we dey refine crude locally, e go protect our economy and reduce reliance on foreign market. E also remind us how Dangote refinery dey lead the charge improve local refining capacity.
As e stand now, the African Energy Bank dey ready to change the game! If we fit work together and take better decisions, Africa go stop dey export its resources and start to create real value. Na time to dey fine-tune our policies and ensure say our local industry dey shine bright!
So, fresh investors, shine your eyes and prepare to connect! We go dey watch how this investment go shake the ground. Make una no forget say, the future nay bright for Africa if we fit get our acts together!
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
