Why the Nigerian government advocate for natural gas as a bridge fuel to renewable energy

The Nigerian government urges the recognition of natural gas as a transition fuel from fossil fuels to renewable energy. At Davos 2022, a World Economic Forum gathering, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo of Nigeria expressed his dismay about the global campaign against gas development/use. With the labelling of natural gas as a non-green energy source, natural gas projects would be defunded by Global Finance Corporations, putting Nigeria in a difficult position as it strives to develop its natural gas deposits.

During the COP26, Nigeria committed to achieving net-zero by 2060. However, the country is still highly dependent on oil and gas revenues. Therefore, exploiting its natural gas reserves is crucial to developing the country's economy and helping the country transit to renewable energy. Thus, the Nigerian government remains committed to utilizing the country's latent natural gas as a transition fuel to renewable energy.

The IEA estimates that 770 million Africans lack access to electricity, with Nigeria accounting for 10%. Africa is the world's second-most-populous continent, and its population is expected to double by 2050. So, while the race to clean and sustainable energy continues, African nations have the challenge to ensure that they increase access to electricity even as demand increases. So we can't rule out natural gas in this context, as it could be a crucial transitional fuel for Africa.