Sunday Ehigiator
Energy expert and former Group Executive Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dan Kunle, has called on Nigeria to urgently accelerate the development of its oil and gas resources, warning that the country risks losing enormous economic opportunities if it fails to transform its hydrocarbon wealth into industries, jobs and infrastructure before global energy dynamics change.
Kunle made the call while delivering a keynote lecture titled, ‘Availability, Accessibility and Sustainability of Oil and Gas Resources for Enhanced Benefits to Nigerians’, at the 4th Annual Distinguished Lecture, Book Presentation, Golf Tournament and 80th Birthday Celebration of Engineer Yusuf Lanre Sagaya, held recently in Ilorin, Kwara State capital.
Speaking before engineers, industry leaders and government officials, Kunle said Nigeria’s challenge was not the absence of natural resources but the inability to effectively convert those resources into sustainable prosperity for its citizens.
He said, “At first sight, this appears to be a conversation about petroleum resources. However, I submit that it is far more than that. It is a conversation about civilisation. It is a conversation about development. It is a conversation about the relationship between natural resources and human progress.”
According to him, history has consistently shown that resources alone do not create wealth, stressing that technology, innovation, engineering and human knowledge remain the true drivers of national development.
“The lesson from history is clear. Resources by themselves do not create development. Human knowledge creates development. Technology creates development. Innovation creates development. Engineering creates development,” Kunle stated.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s petroleum journey, the energy expert noted that despite possessing vast crude oil and natural gas reserves, the country continues to grapple with energy poverty, weak industrialisation and infrastructure deficits.
He explained that the distinction between resource availability and accessibility remains critical.
He added, “Nigeria possesses hydrocarbons in offshore fields, onshore fields, shallow waters, deep waters and frontier basins. Nature has already done its part. The resources exist. However, availability alone does not create prosperity.”
Kunle stressed the need for continuous exploration and reserve replacement, warning that declining exploration activities could threaten the future availability of resources.
“Every serious petroleum-producing nation invests in exploration to discover new resources and replenish what it produces. Reserve replacement is not optional. It is essential,” he said.
He described engineers as central to unlocking Nigeria’s resource potential, noting that accessibility requires infrastructure, investment, institutions and technology.
Drawing lessons from countries such as Japan, Singapore and South Korea, he argued that natural resource abundance does not automatically guarantee prosperity.
“The difference is rarely the resource itself. The difference lies in five fundamental virtues: honesty, compassion, courage, humility and patience,” he said.
