Nigeria targets strategic hydrogen-led transition

In an exclusive interview with Energy Connects ahead of Global African Hydrogen Summit 2025, Sokeipirim Soberekon, Technical Adviser (Legal & Regulations) to the Honourable Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas) of Nigeria, outlines hydrogen’s strategic role in Nigeria’s energy transition, driving decarbonisation, industrialisation, and export revenue, backed by a forthcoming national policy aimed at attracting investment, ensuring sustainability, and expanding equitable access.

• What strategic role does hydrogen play in Nigeria's long-term plan for energy diversification and security?

Historically, Nigeria’s energy sector is dominated with hydrocarbons such as oil and natural gas, with the recent global shift towards the reduction of fossil fuels dependence and green house gas emissions; Nigeria launched the Energy Transition Plan (ETP) in August, 2022 to meet the net-zero emissions targets by 2060. A further update on the ETP in 2024, identifies hydrogen as a key energy mix which aligns with our long term plan of decarbonisation.

Nigeria’s hydrogen development strategy is evidence to its commitment to energy diversification and security, as it aligns with global decarbonising efforts while leveraging on our vast natural resources for a sustainable and inclusive energy future to meet our national development goals. While Hydrogen is multifaceted, in blue and green variants, it stands at the forefront of energy diversification as it allows Nigeria to maximise its economic potential to strengthen its energy sovereignty and self-reliance for a just energy transition agenda.

As part of the long-term plan for energy diversification and security, the Federal Government of Nigeria recognises the strategic value of hydrogen development as it offers a compelling opportunity for export revenue beyond contributing to the total energy demands of critical sectors for industrialisation. This complements the Decade of Gas Initiative, which seeks to transform Nigeria to not only be a gas-powered economy by leveraging on our about 209 tcf of proven gas reserves for economic development but also to build a robust hydrogen economy, using gas as a transition fuel and a source of cleaner energy. Nigeria is positioning itself to be a regional hydrogen hub and a driver for industrialisation growth in the energy landscape.

• What steps are being taken to attract private and international investment into Nigeria's emerging hydrogen sector?

There have been concerted efforts in positioning the hydrogen sector as a viable and investable frontier. In building a robust hydrogen economy, a very intentional and pragmatic step taken is the development of the proposed National Hydrogen policy framework which is expected to provide governance, regulatory framework, and fiscal incentives required to build investor confidence and unlock the much needed investment in the sector.  

A key milestone in this journey, was the First Nigeria National Hydrogen Conference, convened by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources under the leadership of the Honorable Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Honourable Ekperikpe Ekpo,PhD. which was not just a policy showcase but served as an investment platform that brought together several stakeholders and investors both Internationally and locally, to discuss Nigeria’s emerging hydrogen economy that will be fit for global investment. This gathering effectively heralded a turning point for the hydrogen subsector, where a clear consensus emerged on the need for a unified coordinated policy direction to establish a structured and bankable hydrogen market for the nation, anchored on our abundant gas reserves, existing infrastructure and the growing renewable base. A clear roadmap for Hydrogen development, is not only desirable but essential in defining Nigeria’s place in the global hydrogen economy and sends a strong signal to the investment community that Nigeria is positioning itself to be an attractive haven for hydrogen innovation and investment across Africa and beyond.

• How will hydrogen projects be regulated to ensure environmental sustainability and equitable access across the country?

Environmental sustainability and equitable access for hydrogen projects is a frontrunner of the proposed hydrogen development framework. The proposed national hydrogen policy, currently undergoing stakeholder engagements will highlight dedicated regulatory structure that is designed to address regulatory clarity, environmental responsibility and equitable access.  On the environmental front, the proposed framework will set out clear standards for carbon capturing, emission control for blue hydrogen and water usage for green hydrogen, this essentially aligns with our commitments under the Paris Agreement and the Energy Transition Plan. 

The proposed policy will also envision a collaborative regulatory role with the Federal Ministry of Environment to incorporate environmental impact assessment frameworks that are specific to hydrogen while the Ministry of Petroleum Resources plays a supervisory role with existing regulatory agencies in the industry such as the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) with expanded regulatory mandate to cover hydrogen production, storage, transportation and off-take agreements.

Ultimately, the regulatory vision for hydrogen projects is clear, hydrogen development must be safe, environmentally sound, and all-inclusive. Nigeria is not only building a new energy sector, we are laying the regulatory foundation for an energy future that is fair, responsible and resilient for prosperity.