President Bola Tinubu says Africa must price what it produces, trade on its terms, and secure value for its economies and future generations.
President Tinubu stated this while welcoming Africa’s energy leaders to the West African Refined Fuel Conference 2025 in Abuja.
The President maintained that from refining to regulation and data transparency to trade flows, Nigeria was working with regional partners to build an integrated market that rewards its production, secures energy for its people, and deepens prosperity across borders.
“Through this strategic platform, we are creating a transparent, Africa-led reference market that is rooted in collaboration, regulatory alignment, and economic self-determination. This is how we take ownership of our value and shape our energy future.”
“Africa can no longer remain a price taker for its resources. It is time to establish credible, transparent benchmarks that reflect our realities and protect our economies,” he reiterated.
The Executive Secretary of the African Refiners & Distributors Association (ARDA), Anibor Kragha, emphasised that Africa must build cleaner, more efficient refining systems for the benefit of posterity and called for a unified push toward sustainable refining and cross-border regulatory harmonisation.
The Director of Downstream at SONAP in Senegal, Sory Keita, who represented MD Amadou Doumbouya, called for greater synergy between the West African sun regional national energy institutions to close infrastructure gaps and enhance cross-border product access.
RN
