The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources has commended the Nigerian Institute of Petroleum and Gas Engineers (NIPetGE) for its expanding role in shaping Nigeria’s oil and gas sector reforms, strengthening technical capacity, and advancing innovation in line with global energy transition demands.
The endorsement was made in Abuja during a high-level courtesy visit by the President-elect of NIPetGE, Engr. Prisca Kanebi, who led a delegation to the Ministry and was received by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Patience Nwakuso Oyekunle.
The engagement highlighted a shared commitment between government and industry professionals to reposition Nigeria’s hydrocarbon sector for competitiveness, sustainability, and alignment with global decarbonisation targets.
Officials at the Ministry of Petroleum Resources praised NIPetGE for emerging as a key professional body influencing policy direction, industry standards, and engineering capacity development within Nigeria’s oil and gas ecosystem.
According to the Ministry, the institute has become increasingly relevant in supporting sector-wide reforms at a time when global pressure continues to mount on hydrocarbon-producing nations to accelerate energy transition, emissions reduction, and cleaner production systems.
The Ministry noted that such professional contributions are critical as Nigeria seeks to balance its dependence on hydrocarbons with the global shift toward sustainable and low-carbon energy systems.
Speaking during the meeting, Engr. Prisca Kanebi, President-elect of NIPetGE, outlined key outcomes from the institute’s recent conference, noting its alignment with the Federal Government’s decarbonisation and energy transition agenda.
She reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to supporting policy reforms that will position Nigeria as a technology-driven and environmentally responsible oil and gas producer within the global energy market.
Kanebi emphasised that Nigeria’s hydrocarbon sector must evolve through innovation, stronger regulation, and investment in emerging technologies to remain globally competitive.
As part of its policy engagement, NIPetGE presented a series of strategic proposals aimed at transforming Nigeria’s energy and petroleum sector, including:
- Establishment of a National Centre for Intelligent Energy Systems to accelerate deployment of artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), and robotics across the oil and gas value chain
- Creation of a hydrocarbon-based emissions trading framework to position Nigeria within global carbon markets
- Introduction of targeted fiscal incentives to support local content development in energy services and manufacturing
- Expansion of the Energy Transition Plan to include measurable upstream decarbonisation targets backed by tax credits
- Increased investment in public-private partnerships (PPPs) for carbon capture systems, emissions control infrastructure, and hybrid renewable energy projects
The institute stressed that Nigeria must adopt a balanced energy strategy, sustaining investment in hydrocarbons while accelerating renewable energy integration and digital transformation of the sector.
Both the Ministry and NIPetGE agreed on the urgent need to bridge the gap between academia and industry in order to strengthen engineering capacity, technical skills development, and global competitiveness among Nigerian professionals.
The institute further disclosed that its legislative push for autonomy is progressing steadily, with its enabling bill having successfully passed second reading at the National Assembly and moving toward a third reading as it seeks full chartered status.
In a key outcome of the engagement, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources pledged continued support for NIPetGE and expressed readiness to collaborate on initiatives that promote innovation, efficiency, and sustainable development in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
The Ministry also reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening partnerships with professional bodies and stakeholders across the energy industry to accelerate reforms and improve sector performance.
The meeting underscores a deepening collaboration between government institutions and professional engineering bodies, a development widely viewed as essential to achieving a resilient, competitive, and future-ready Nigerian energy sector.
As Nigeria continues to navigate global energy transition pressures, stakeholders emphasize that innovation, institutional collaboration, and policy reform will remain central to sustaining the relevance of its hydrocarbon industry while expanding cleaner energy pathways.
