The Petroleum & Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has called on stakeholders in the industry to work together to strengthen the regulatory frameworks and enforcement to tackle all forms of challenges confronting the oil and gas industry.
This is contained in a communique issued at end of the third edition of PENGASSAN Energy And Labour Summit (PEALS 2024).
Comrade Festus Osifo, PENGASSAN President, who signed the communique, stated:
“There is need for concerted drive of all stakeholders through the development of innovative solutions, sharing of information and supporting the enforcement of laws designed to protect our resources.”
The communique reads in part: “The Summit highlighted areas of optimisation in the industry cutting across exploration, drilling, production, refining, transportation and distribution. To achieve greater benefits for the Nation’s hydrocarbon resources and harness its potential, the Summit examined this broad topic as it affects energy security, affordability and accessibility. The Summit examined Nigeria’s Energy Mix amidst clamour for sustainable and greener energy such as solar, wind, biomass, electricity/batteries, and hydrogen. The Summit looked deeply into the impact of Artificial Intelligence in the future of the oil and gas industry and how to leverage AI advancements that could lead to significant economic benefits, increase investor confidence, enhance operational efficiency, increase productivity and safeguard the country’s resources and revenue.
“Therefore, to be prepared for this transformation, there must be upskilling and reskilling of the workforce, through innovative research, focused on sustainability and strengthening of industry collaboration that will promote a culture of continuous learning.”
Speaking further, Osifo stated: “Energy security is cardinal for the survival of any nation and Nigeria is not an exception; hence the citizens of Nigeria constantly demand energy affordability, accessibility and availability. Despite various macroeconomic challenges bedevilling Nigeria’s capacity to tap its enormous energy resources, PEALS 2024 examined the few strides that have been made and proffered some solutions to the identified challenges.”
According to him, “the Federal Government needs to re-engineer its security architecture, beef up security and take over the responsibility of securing oil and gas installations from investors by providing naval security vessels to man oil and gas infrastructures. This will greatly reduce the high cost of production.
“Those caught for crude oil theft should be prosecuted by a court of competent jurisdiction and punished severely to serve as a deterrent(s) to others. The Government must quickly see to the implementation of the provision for the host community in the Petroleum Industry Act. This will create a sense of ownership for the host communities thereby triggering the need to protect the pipelines or at worst, act as whistleblowers.”
With the 4th edition of the PENGASSAN Energy and Labour Summit scheduled for the 20th to the 22nd of August 2025, the Comrade Festus Osifo led executive however promised that the summit would be another opening of new frontiers in awareness, policy-shaping, education, problem-solving and collaboration.
“We will go all out to play our roles as key players in the industry. We expect that all stakeholders will roll up their sleeves and put into quick use the practical recommendations rolled out above as we all collaborate to ensure sustainability in our industry- indeed the soul of Nigeria’s economy,” he concluded.
By Ajibola Adedoye
