INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LATEST TECHNOLOGY IN ENGINEERING,
MANAGEMENT & APPLIED SCIENCE (IJLTEMAS)
ISSN 2278-2540 | DOI: 10.51583/IJLTEMAS | Volume XIV, Issue X, October 2025
www.ijltemas.in Page 429
How United States Energy Policy Can Be Improved
The Nigerian oil and gas sector’s reform experience provides several practical lessons for United States energy policy, most
especially in an attempt to balancing energy security, climate transition, and global competitiveness. While Nigeria faces several
governance challenges, its Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 demonstrates the importance of regulatory clarity, local
participation, and transparency in strengthening investor confidence and sustainable development.
Making rules and policies clear and reliable
One of the most important lessons from Nigeria is the value of regulatory certainty. For nearly twenty years, the country struggled
with a patchwork of petroleum laws and inconsistent fiscal policies that delayed investment decisions and caused billions of
dollars in deferred projects (Adewuyi and Akinyemi, 2021). The passage of the PIA in 2021 ended years of uncertainty, unifying
fiscal, environmental, and governance frameworks into a single legal instrument.
The United States, as the world’s leading producer of oil and gas, also faces regulatory debates over issues relating to methane
emissions, carbon pricing, and permitting of new energy infrastructure (United States Energy Information Administration (EIA),
2023).
Moreso, one important lesson is to establish a clear, time-bound regulatory processes that provide investors with predictable
timelines. For example, streamlined permitting for LNG terminals, and carbon capture projects could reduce capital flight and
attract global partners, while ensuring that energy transition policies do not undermine domestic competitiveness.
Promoting local businesses and local ownership
Nigeria’s Local Content Act (2010) significantly changed the participation of local companies in oil and gas projects, increasing
their share from less than 5% to over 30% in 10 years (Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), 2021).
This was achieved through a deliberate combination of policies that included training programs, mandatory use of local goods and
services, and financial support for indigenous operators.
However, the United States can apply the same principles in its clean energy transition by prioritizing domestic manufacturing of
renewable energy components, supporting workforce retraining programs, and promoting minority-owned businesses in the
energy value chain. Furthermore, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) already includes tax incentives for United States-
made solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicle components (White House, 2022).
Hence, through the adoption of a comprehensive local participation framework, modeled after that of Nigeria, could further
strengthen job creation, enhance energy resilience, and ensure that rural and historically disadvantaged communities benefit from
the transition.
Openness, Integrity, and Public Responsibility
Nigeria’s participation in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), and its adoption of beneficial ownership
disclosures under the PIA have improved governance and reduced unlawful financial flows in the sector (NEITI, 2022). Also, the
public disclosure of oil contracts, production data, and revenue allocations has enhanced trust between the government, industry,
and civil society.
For the United States, strengthening transparency in energy supply chains is becoming increasingly important, most especially in
the procurement of important minerals used for batteries and renewable technologies. Enhanced EITI compliance, mandatory
disclosure of beneficial owners of supply chain contractors, and open contracting systems could help reduce corruption risks, and
improve public trust in federal clean energy programs if not eliminated (Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), 2023).
Involving Local Communities in the Transition
Another important lesson is Nigeria’s inclusion of Host Community Development Trusts under the PIA, which require oil
companies to contribute about 3% of their operating expenditure to fund local development projects (NUPRC, 2022). This
approach has helped in reducing conflict in oil-producing regions, improves security, and ensures that local populations share in
the benefits of extraction.
Consequently, the United States can replicate this model in communities affected by coal plant closures, and or fossil fuel
phaseouts by funding local economic diversification, retraining displaced workers, and investing in social infrastructure. This
approach would help to strengthen the political, and social sustainability of the energy transition and reduce resistance from
vulnerable communities.
Conclusively, Nigeria’s experience highlights that effective energy governance requires predictable regulations, inclusive
economic participation, and a sound transparency mechanisms. These lessons can help the United States balance energy security
with its climate goals, while maintaining global competitiveness and ensuring a fair transition for its citizens.
Global Trade and the Energy Transition
As countries commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and transition toward low-carbon energy systems, global trade
continues to experience major shifts . These structural changes has helped in reshaping demand patterns, investment flows, and