President of the African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA), Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid has called for more investments in Nigeria’s refining sector to promote energy security and reduce reliance on imported petroleum products.

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Speaking at the Crude Oil Refinery-Owners Association of Nigeria (CORAN) summit themed “Making Nigeria a Net Exporter of Petroleum Products,” Abdul-Hamid insisted that refining African crude oil locally and enhancing the continent’s energy infrastructure are sacrosanct.

In his address, delivered on behalf of ARDA, he praised CORAN for organising a summit that directly aligns with ARDA’s goals of boosting investments across Africa’s downstream supply chain and enhancing energy security by processing African crude oil in local refineries. He emphasised the need for “value addition” in Nigeria’s energy sector, noting that while most Nigerians may never see a barrel of crude oil, they rely on petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, and kerosene in their daily lives.

Abdul-Hamid underscored the critical role of midstream and downstream infrastructure in ensuring these energy products reach the population. He also stressed the importance of building comprehensive energy infrastructure across Africa, including refineries, storage terminals, pipeline systems, retail service stations, and LPG bottling plants.

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“Given Africa’s projected population growth—expected to reach one in four people globally by 2050, with Nigeria becoming the third most populous country—there is an urgent need to meet the corresponding increase in energy demand with African resources,” he said.

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He further highlighted the role of ARDA in promoting energy security across the continent, particularly through initiatives like the OPEC-Africa Energy Dialogue, which brings together key players including the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) and the African Union’s African Energy Commission (AFREC) to strengthen Africa’s oil and gas industry.

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Abdul-Hamid also commended the recent establishment of the African Energy Bank (AEB), an initiative spearheaded by APPO in collaboration with Afreximbank.

He noted ARDA’s commitment to supporting the bank’s goal of financing midstream and downstream projects across Africa, and urged stakeholders to ensure projects are well-prepared with clear regulatory frameworks, cost structures, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals.

Abdul-Hamid congratulated CORAN for their efforts in advancing Nigeria’s refining capabilities and reiterated ARDA’s support for Nigeria’s path toward energy security. He invited CORAN members to participate in the 2025 ARDA Week in Cape Town, South Africa, themed “Africa First – Delivering our Energy Future,” where discussions on Africa’s energy future will continue.

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