“When fully operational, the data centre will centralise licensing, production, revenue, and export data across oil, gas, and solid mineral sectors.

“It will enhance transparency and accountability in the sector and enable automated disclosures by companies in line with NEITI standards,” he said.

Gbefwi said that an International Energy Agency report projected that the demand for critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, and rare earth elements would quadruple by 2040.

“The global transition to clean energy has intensified the race for critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, and rare earth elements.

“These minerals are essential inputs in electric vehicles, solar panels, wind turbines, and battery storage among others,” he said.

In his remarks, the Director General, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Mr Chukwuemeka Woke, highlighted the critical moment Nigeria’s extractive sector was facing as the world shifted towards low-carbon energy systems.

Represented by Mrs Margaret Adesida, Director, ICT/GIS, Woke said that several divestment deals involving major international oil companies had been initiated or concluded.

Earlier in her address, the Director, Spaces for Change, Mrs Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, said that as the world raced towards energy transition, Nigeria should make informed choices on regulation, environmental accountability and community protection.