Nigeria is trailing by at least 10 years in its adoption of renewable energy solutions. That is the verdict of Mr. Ekeinde Ohiwerei, General Manager, Corporate Services at the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG.
Ohiwerei made this revelation during a panel session at the ongoing IoT West Africa Data Centre, Cloud Expo, Power and Water annual conference held in Lagos.
Speaking on the theme “The Digital Revolution in Oil and Gas – Advancing Efficiency, Automation and Sustainability,” Ohiwerei revealed that Nigeria’s energy sector emits a staggering 13.3 billion tons of gas annually.
He called for strategic action, saying the country must focus on both controlling and reducing emissions through smarter infrastructure and climate-conscious investments, including cleaner gas streams.
He emphasized that while some progress has been made, the footprint of renewable energy remains largely invisible in Nigeria’s energy transition.
“We have potential for significant progress in reducing emissions and promoting efficient energy use, especially through the integration of AI and smart electricity management,” he added.
Also speaking at the session, Mr. Alexey Ushakov, Business Development Manager at Cummins Inc., outlined his company’s journey toward zero emissions.
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Ushakov said Cummins has embedded a strict emissions reduction policy since 2013, with a 2030 goal to completely eliminate emissions from its systems.
He highlighted alternatives such as Hydrotreated Vegetable Oils and synthetic diesel engines as promising low-emission solutions, but warned that technologies like batteries and solar panels also bring environmental trade-offs in their production.
Ushakov stressed the need for a balanced approach combining both emission control and sustainable fuel adoption.
“We need to mix and blend these two approaches to move forward,” he said, adding that real-time data analytics would be key to identifying scalable solutions.
The panel discussion included other leading voices in the energy and tech sectors, all of whom emphasized the growing relevance of digital innovation, AI, and big data in accelerating Nigeria’s transition toward sustainable energy models.
They called for industry collaboration to maximize the benefits of digital tools and embed sustainability in operational models.
The conference, which runs from May 13 to 15, brings together key stakeholders across energy, infrastructure, and technology to discuss forward-looking solutions for Nigeria and West Africa’s development.
NAN
