General
Chamber Hails EU Proposal to Label Natural Gas as Green Energy
By Adedapo Adesanya
The African Energy Chamber has hailed the European Union’s landmark proposal to label natural gas as a green energy source.
The group noted that the proposal will help advance Africa’s call for a just and inclusive energy transition.
Recognizing the effects of climate change, the continent industrialize itself first so it can have the same opportunities as Europe and other western countries.
“The point that natural gas serves as a transitional energy source is one that has been promoted by African nations for a long time and therefore, the African Energy Chamber hails the EU’s proposal as a landmark development that justifies a positive outlook for an inclusive energy transition.
“It has taken a crisis in energy availability to bring about policies that could increase Africa’s energy supply. The current pressure from The West to acclimatize to cleaner energy systems has so far been exclusive in recognizing that the transition may differ in form and timing from one region to another.
“By restricting investment into energy sources, such as gas, Africa has stood the chance of being left behind during the energy transition, which is counterproductive and regressive,” the group stated.
Speaking on this, Mr NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber noted, “We have had our disagreements with our European friends, however, there has always been constructive, behind-the-scenes dialogue with European policymakers. They listened, worked, and let us make the case for Africa’s low-carbon LNG and these discussions have been critical in getting us to see eye-to-eye on gas, a lot of work still needs to be done to make this a reality.
“The demonization of Africa’s gas industry needs to stop, and investments need to come into the sector. While we continue this engagement, it is important that the oil and gas industry focuses its investment on further reducing carbon emissions within the gas value chain.
“Sustainable development and making energy poverty history will require Africa to increase gas within its energy mix, which will give us a fighting chance to reduce the continent’s carbon footprint, even when we are still under 4 per cent of global emissions.”
The Chamber put forth that Africa faces unique challenges and must be allowed to time its own energy transition according to its own needs, adding that the proposal to label natural gas as green energy is what a just energy transition looks like, and now, we need to finance it.
It also called for a collaboration between both continents towards paving the way for a new approach to Africa’s energy industry, one that serves the whole world and all its people as opposed to a privileged few.
Should most EU members back the proposal, then it will become law from 2023, which the African Energy Chamber hopes will stand to help the United States recognize natural gas as a clean fuel, which it, unfortunately, does not under the Biden Administration’s current clean power plans.
“Despite predictions that demand for African LNG is expected to grow for the foreseeable future, investments in gas exploration have been hit hard by a short-sighted bias against our low-carbon natural gas resources. This has led to a reluctance towards investing in supply projects because of the fractured global outlook towards natural gas.
“African nations must be more pragmatic. If exploration and production companies must wait one or two years before their proposed projects are sanctioned, then the prospects for a sustainable African energy future will diminish rapidly. These practices, which help protect the interests of oil-producing nations, made sense when crude sold for $100 per barrel and before the energy transition took centre stage, but they don’t make sense now,” explained Mr Ayuk.
To capitalize on this, the African Green Energy Summit, to be held at African Energy Week this year, will clearly outline initiatives and positions ahead of this year’s COP27.
This new proposal will pave the way for new European investments in natural gas in Africa and will therefore allow Europe to unlock billions of euros in finance and sustainable energy funds to support gas as a transitional energy source.
The EU will want to import whatever natural gas Africa develops, which is constructive for project funding and will open doors to have candid discussions about furthering energy availability across the continent.
Some countries, like Senegal, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Nigeria, Angola, Ghana, Mauritania, Libya, Cameroon, Algeria, and Equatorial Guinea, have taken steps to monetize their natural resources to develop and industrialize independently.
By using natural gas as a feedstock to create other value-added products, like petrochemicals, from fertilizers to ammonia, revenue can be used to build infrastructure, from pipelines to ports and roadways, it will open the doors to economic diversification for other African countries as well.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in partnership with the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), has launched a strategic reform agenda aimed at enhancing port efficiency and strengthening Nigeria’s trade competitiveness.
The initiative was unveiled on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at the opening of a three-day operational workshop in Apapa, Lagos, themed Customs Leadership in Port Efficiency, Inspection Reform and Clearance Timeline.
Speaking at the event, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr Adewale Adeniyi, outlined a five-pillar strategy designed to transform port operations. The framework focuses on joint inspections, risk-based cargo clearance, optimisation of scanning infrastructure, enforcement of service timelines, and improved inter-agency collaboration.
Mr Adeniyi emphasised that the Service is shifting from policy formulation to effective implementation, stressing the need for consistent execution of established best practices.
He noted that the “workshop was aimed at bridging the gap between knowledge and action within the system.”
He further highlighted the transition to intelligence-led cargo processing, stating that ongoing investments in digital platforms and scanning systems must result in faster, more transparent clearance procedures for traders.
To ensure accountability, the Customs boss disclosed that the workshop would produce a reform execution matrix subject to close monitoring, adding that he would personally track progress reports.
He also urged officers to uphold professionalism, integrity, and commitment in the discharge of their duties.
In her remarks, the Director-General of PEBEC, Mrs Zahrah Mustapha-Audu, underscored the importance of adopting risk-based, data-driven inspection systems.
According to her, efficient and transparent border processes are essential to reducing the cost of doing business and improving Nigeria’s global trade standing.
Also speaking, the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Tariff and Trade, Mrs Caroline Niagwan, said the evolving mandate of the Service places it at the heart of trade facilitation and economic growth, adding that efficiency must be reflected across all commands.
As part of the engagement, the Customs and PEBEC delegation visited the National Single Window facility, where they held discussions with the Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Mr Zacch Adedeji, and other stakeholders to review progress and address operational challenges.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Madica, a structured investment programme for pre-seed African startups, has announced new investments totalling $600,000 in three tech-enabled startups, including Nigerian data startup, Biovana.
According to the initiative, these investments further reinforce Madica’s commitment to supporting founders and startups often excluded from traditional venture funding. The other startups include Tanzania’s Kilimo Fresh and Kenya’s Hakimu.
Each company has secured up to $200,000 in funding and will take part in Madica’s 18-month programme. This includes a tailored curriculum, hands-on mentorship, executive coaching, and two fully funded immersion trips to key technology ecosystems, both locally and internationally. The startups will also gain access to Madica’s global investor network, helping position them for growth and long-term success.
Madica’s programme seeks to counter the concentration of Africa’s tech funding in a few markets, verticals, and well-networked entrepreneurs and instead drive more equitable growth across the continent. This is done by backing a mix of underrepresented founders, startups from underserved regions, and innovators in overlooked sectors.
Launched in 2022, Madica is a sector-agnostic investment program designed to address structural gaps in Africa’s startup ecosystem. The program tackles key challenges startups face, such as limited access to capital, a scarcity of investors, and insufficient mentorship. It also provides the structured support necessary for startups to resolve critical issues and foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and wealth creation across the continent.
Kilimo Fresh (Tanzania), co-founded by Ms Baraka Chijenga and Mr Justice Mangu, connects smallholder farmers in Tanzania to reliable urban markets by aggregating, processing, and distributing fresh produce through a technology-enabled supply chain, aiming to reduce food waste.
Hakimu (Kenya), Hakimu, co-founded by Ms Rawan Dareer, Mr Ahmed Ahmed and Mr Ahmed Elbashir, is building a pan-African legal infrastructure leveraging the power of AI.
Biovana (Nigeria), co-founded by two female founders, Ms Estelle Dogbo and Dr Jumi Popoola, is a data harmonisation and certification platform focused on unlocking African health datasets for global pharmaceutical, AI, and clinical research applications.
Commenting on the new portfolio companies, Mr Emmanuel Adegboye, Head of Madica, said, “Each new investment brings us closer to the portfolio we set out to build, one that reflects the full breadth and diversity of African entrepreneurship. These three startups join a growing community of founders we’re backing with the resources, relationships, and runway they need to succeed at this early stage. The opportunity across the continent is enormous, and we’re committed to being a crucial and consistent partner in realising it.”
“Joining the Madica portfolio is a significant moment for Hakimu. We’re revolutionising access to justice across Africa, and having a partner that understands the specific challenges and opportunities of scaling in Africa makes a real difference,” said Ms Dareer, co-founder and CEO of Hakimu. “We’re grateful for the trust, looking forward to the hands-on support, and clear-eyed about the work ahead.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
President Bola Tinubu is expected to be among the leading public figures attending the next edition of the Africa CEO Forum, which will take place on May 14-15, 2026, in Kigali, Rwanda
A strong Nigerian private-sector delegation will also take part, including Mr Aliko Dangote, Mr Wale Tinubu, Mr Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, Mrs Adesuwa Ladoja, Mrs Rachel More-Oshodi, Mrs Zouera Youssoufou, Mr Karim Noujaim, Mr Dany Abboud, Mr Ayo Otuyalo and Mr Chukwuerika Achum. Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, will also be present.
According to a statement on Tuesday, the 2026 edition will convene in Kigali to address a defining question for Africa’s future: how to achieve the scale necessary to compete, integrate and thrive in a fragmenting world.
It comes as global power dynamics continue to evolve, while the ability of Africa to rely on competitive, agile and internationally integrated corporate champions has become a defining corporate imperative. In this shifting global landscape, one lesson is clear: scale is no longer optional. It is the first line of defence.
Organised by Jeune Afrique Media Group and co-hosted by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Africa CEO Forum 2026 will convene Africa’s leading public and private decision-makers around a clear conviction: scale can only be achieved through shared African ownership.
The Forum will explore three strategic levers to build continental scale. First is shared equity, which will look to unlock cross-border equity investment to create multinational African champions. Mobilise African institutional capital across markets to strengthen resilience and enhance long-term returns.
Also, is shared infrastructure, which will take on designing complementary infrastructure to integrate African value chains. Champion transformative projects that serve regional, not merely national, needs and create truly connected markets.
Thirdly is shared frameworks, which is set to harmonise standards, rules and regulations to boost investor confidence and enable the free flow of capital, goods and services. Build future-proof digital rails for health, education, agriculture and cross-border payments.
Speaking on this, Mr Amir Ben Yahmed, President of the Africa CEO Forum, stated: “If Africa wants to compete in a world defined by scale, it must move beyond economic patriotism and embrace a new model: African capital investing together. Shared ownership, cross-border partnerships and continental ambition will define the economic future of Africa and the next generation of African champions.”
On his part, Mr Makhtar Diop, Managing Director at IFC, stated: “Africa has the capital and the opportunity to grow and create quality jobs. What matters now is putting that capital to work at scale. That means building trust, sharing risk, and investing across borders. The Africa CEO Forum brings leaders together to connect policy and private investment, and to help shape Africa’s next phase of growth.”
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