More than 600 million Africans still lack electricity, while millions more remain without clean cooking solutions, the Secretary-General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), Philip Mshelbila, has disclosed.
Speaking at the 2026 Nigeria International Energy Summit held at the State House Abuja on Tuesday, he stressed that Africa’s energy consumption per person is only a third of the global average.
Mshelbila warned that unless total energy demand triples by 2050, the continent will continue to struggle with energy poverty.
He called for a structural transformation of energy systems, with natural gas at the centre of electricity generation, fertilizer production, and clean cooking through LPG.
Highlighting Nigeria’s role, he described the country as a key pillar in Africa’s gas story, noting that it holds both the GECF Secretary-General position and the rotating presidency for 2026.
He also stressed the need for population-conscious planning, pointing out that Nigeria’s population is projected to reach 400 million in 25 years, while Africa’s total population could rise to 2.5 billion.
“Policymakers and business leaders must account for this growth in healthcare, education, infrastructure, and energy planning,” he said.
Mshelbila further noted that global energy demand has risen sharply, from 40 exajoules in the 18th century to 635 exajoules in 2024, largely driven by industrialisation.
According to him, natural gas remains the cleanest fossil fuel and will play a central role in meeting future global energy needs securely and affordably.
