Publisher of Oriental News Nigeria Online, Mrs. Yemisi Izuora, and President of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), Maureen Chigbo, have called for the accelerated adoption of gas as a transition fuel and for greater integration of gas into household energy use across Nigeria.
The duo made their remarks during separate interviews at the *Oriental News Nigeria 2025 Conference* held in Lagos, with the theme: *“Integrating Nigeria’s Gas Potential into Strategic Energy Transition Initiatives.”*
Mrs. Izuora, who is also the convener of the summit, explained that the topic was carefully selected after critical analysis of the country’s energy needs and the role of gas in Nigeria’s evolving energy landscape. She reiterated her organisation’s support for the Federal Government’s energy transition agenda.
“We decided to host this summit to bring experts and stakeholders together to discuss Nigeria’s gas transition initiative,” Izuora stated. “Gas is central to the country’s economic development—it powers electricity, drives transportation through CNG, and serves domestic uses via LPG.”
She, however, expressed concern over the high cost and limited accessibility of gas, particularly in rural communities. According to her, gas remains unaffordable to many, even in urban areas, due to limited production and distribution.
“To promote gas usage, the government should issue more licences to gas producers to drive competition and reduce costs,” she urged. “Education is also key—people in rural areas are largely unaware of the benefits of gas. Outreach efforts should not be restricted to city centres.”
Highlighting the challenges of clean energy adoption, GOCOP President, Maureen Chigbo, emphasized the disproportionate impact of unclean energy on women and children. She called for urgent steps to accelerate the transition to clean energy sources, such as gas, to improve health outcomes and economic opportunities for women.
“Globally, over 2.3 billion people are affected by unclean energy, and a significant portion of this number comprises women and children,” Chigbo said. “Women who juggle multiple roles are often burdened by time-consuming tasks like fetching firewood, which limits their capacity to engage in income-generating activities.”
She stressed that transitioning to clean, gas-based energy would reduce this burden and uplift many households.
“As panelists deliberate on the way forward, it is vital that the outcomes prioritize inclusive energy solutions—especially for women, who stand to benefit the most from clean, accessible power,” Chigbo added.
The conference brought together key players in the energy sector, policy makers, civil society groups, and the media to examine the role of gas in Nigeria’s energy future and explore sustainable strategies for national energy security and development.