The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Maikanti Baru, is seeking better collaboration and development amongst African countries in the oil and gas sector.

Mr Baru said: “It is high time African countries collaborate and trade amongst each other not only in terms of oil and gas but in other key sectors.”

He made this known on Monday, at the inaugural edition of the Nigeria International Petroleum Summit (NIPS) holding in Abuja.

According to the NNPC boss, the five-day event is programmed to be an annual event and expected to be Africa’s largest and most important industry platform.

“After several decades of Petroleum exploration exploitation in Nigeria, this event is long overdue, however, as the popular saying goes, it is better late than never.”

He noted that discussions are expected to cut across the industry value chain with focus areas on deepening collaboration across and within the African oil and gas space.

Other areas it will focus on are how to develop modern technologies in the industry, innovative strategies to survive after a global down turn, current trends in the oil and gas markets, gas to power, among other things.

Speaking further, he thanked the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, whose efforts according to him, contributed in making the programme a success.

“Your efforts have nurtured this event into a full-fledged international summit.

“As I scan through the list of invited speakers and panelists, I am convinced that we will be able to frame new strategies and come up with practicable solutions for effectively developing Africa’s Hydrocarbon resources,” he added.