By Kunle Odusola-Stevenson
Nigeria’s energy sector is entering a new era of clarity, coordination, and confidence — and at the heart of this transformation is Mrs. Olu Arowolo Verheijen, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Energy.
Tasked with translating presidential ambition into measurable outcomes, Verheijen has become a driving force behind the administration’s push to reposition gas as the cornerstone of Nigeria’s industrial and economic future.
Her work signals a quiet but powerful shift from policy pronouncements to pragmatic progress. Under her guidance, the Energy Office has moved beyond rhetoric to deliver tangible results — reviving long-delayed projects, aligning stakeholders across the value chain, and setting a firm path for Nigeria’s gas-led growth strategy.
Unlocking Long-Stalled Opportunities
For decades, Nigeria’s gas reserves — among the largest globally — remained underutilised, overshadowed by oil’s volatility and fiscal dependence. That story is changing. In August 2025, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and upstream gas suppliers signed long-term Gas Supply Agreements (GSAs) with NLNG to deliver 1.29 billion standard cubic feet per day (BSCFD) of feedgas — a milestone more than two decades in the making.
Mrs. Verheijen’s office was instrumental in coordinating the inter-agency collaboration that unlocked this deal, restoring investor confidence and ensuring stable feedstock for LNG exports. The achievement marked a critical turning point — not just for NLNG, but for Nigeria’s standing in the global gas market.
Turning Policy Into Tangible Infrastructure
Verheijen’s approach combines big-picture vision with operational discipline. Beyond announcements, she has championed mechanisms that de-risk private capital and accelerate the buildout of gas infrastructure — from pipelines and processing facilities to distribution networks.
The results are measurable. According to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), daily gas production rose to 7.59 billion standard cubic feet per day (BSCFD) in July 2025, an 8.6% year-on-year increase. Gas flaring, meanwhile, dropped to 7.16%, the lowest in years — a sign that fiscal incentives, enforcement, and project monitoring are delivering environmental dividends alongside economic gains.
These improvements reflect the Tinubu administration’s determination to convert Nigeria’s gas wealth into tangible growth, and Verheijen’s steady coordination has been central to that success.
Balancing Export Ambition With Inclusive Domestic Growth
While the NLNG agreements strengthen Nigeria’s export potential, Verheijen is equally focused on the domestic front. Under her guidance, the Energy Office has worked with partners to expand access to clean energy, particularly through the National Clean Cooking Policy — a programme targeting 54% LPG penetration and the rollout of 10 million cylinders by 2030.
These initiatives are not just about energy efficiency; they are about social impact — reducing deforestation, improving health outcomes, and creating thousands of jobs in manufacturing and distribution. For Verheijen, energy is both a developmental tool and a moral responsibility.
Championing Inclusion And Human Capital
In her public engagements, Verheijen often stresses that infrastructure alone cannot sustain transformation. Human capacity and inclusion must anchor Nigeria’s energy transition. With women comprising less than 20% of the sector’s workforce, she has called for intentional measures to close the gender gap — promoting mentorship, training, and leadership opportunities across the value chain.
This emphasis on inclusion reflects a holistic understanding of transformation: one that sees energy as not just a commodity, but a catalyst for empowerment and equity.
Sustaining Momentum: The Road Ahead
The progress so far — rising production, reduced flaring, revived projects, expanding access — points to a sector regaining momentum. But sustaining that trajectory requires consistent implementation, private sector confidence, and long-term policy stability.
Under Mrs. Verheijen’s leadership, the Energy Office continues to provide the connective tissue between policy and practice, ensuring that Nigeria’s gas agenda stays coherent and credible. Her role — often behind the scenes — has been to align government priorities with investor realities, ensuring reforms translate into real projects and measurable national benefit.
Conclusion: A Defining Chapter In Nigeria’s Energy Story
Nigeria’s energy story has long been one of untapped potential. But today, under a government willing to act and an adviser determined to deliver, the country is turning that potential into progress.
Mrs. Olu Arowolo Verheijen represents a new class of public servant — data-driven, globally informed, and deeply committed to national impact. Her blueprint is clear: make gas the bridge to industrialisation, sustainability, and inclusive prosperity.
If the current momentum is maintained, Nigeria may soon find that its greatest wealth lies not beneath the ground — but in the leadership, coordination, and vision driving its transformation above it.
By Kunle Odusola-Stevenson,Public Affairs and Energy Communications Strategist