Shettima says partnership with global energy body will help Nigeria maximise its vast resources, improve policy and strengthen economic growth……
Nigeria has taken a major step towards deepening its role in the global energy sector after formally joining the International Energy Agency (IEA) as an association country and signing a new agreement to strengthen cooperation on energy policy, data and investment.
The agreement, signed in Abuja on Thursday, establishes a Joint Work Programme (JWP) between Nigeria and the Paris-based agency, with a focus on improving the development and use of energy data across the value chain.
The partnership is expected to support better energy policymaking, attract investment and strengthen Nigeria’s efforts towards economic growth and energy security.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Tinubu at the signing ceremony, described Nigeria’s admission into the IEA as a significant milestone and another indication of the progress being recorded through the administration’s economic reforms.
Shettima said Nigeria’s entry into the IEA reflects the country’s growing strategic importance in the international energy landscape, while also demonstrating the confidence placed in the country’s commitment to international cooperation.
According to him, the development provides Nigeria with an opportunity to draw from the IEA’s institutional knowledge, technical expertise and global reach as the country seeks to unlock the potential of its energy resources.
He said Nigeria’s vast energy endowments, including its renewable resources, could play a greater role in transforming the economy if properly harnessed.
The Vice President also commended the IEA for its contribution to the global energy conversation, particularly its efforts to help countries address challenges surrounding energy security, affordability, sustainability and economic development.
Shettima assured the IEA delegation that Nigeria would continue working with international partners and other stakeholders to contribute meaningfully to discussions on the global energy transition.
He stressed that Nigeria remained committed to pursuing a fair and just transition that takes into account the country’s development needs and available resources.
The IEA Executive Director, Fatih Birol, who led the agency’s delegation to Abuja, described the organisation as a government-based institution covering virtually every major area of energy technology and policy.
He noted that the agency’s work spans sectors including oil and gas, solar energy, nuclear power, artificial intelligence and electric vehicles.
Birol said the IEA works with hundreds of leading energy experts around the world to provide governments with policy advice, data and technical expertise.
He explained that becoming part of the IEA’s association framework is not automatic, as prospective members are subjected to extensive discussions and assessments.
According to him, Nigeria’s admission followed detailed engagements with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Ekperikpe Ekpo, before the IEA governing board unanimously approved the country’s membership.
Birol said the board, which includes governments such as the United States, Japan, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, backed Nigeria’s admission.
He assured the Nigerian government that the IEA would work closely with the country’s energy sector in the coming years to help build a stronger and more sustainable energy future.
He said the agency would provide policy support in areas ranging from clean cooking and gas markets to capacity building, including opportunities for Nigerian experts to receive training through the IEA.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, linked Nigeria’s admission to the reforms implemented by the Tinubu administration, saying the country’s progress had strengthened its standing internationally.
He said the Joint Work Programme would provide a framework for IEA technical experts to work with Nigerian institutions on the development of reliable energy data.
Ekpo said such data would be critical to improving energy policy, guiding investment decisions across the value chain and advancing Nigeria’s objectives on economic growth and energy security.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, also described the partnership as strategically important to Nigeria.
He acknowledged the role played by Nigeria’s diplomatic mission in Paris in advancing the country’s engagement with the IEA and helping to bring the partnership to fruition.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Mustapha Abdullahi, said the country had maintained a working relationship with the IEA for years despite the absence of a formal framework.
Abdullahi disclosed that the relationship had previously resulted in the joint sponsorship of Nigeria’s most recent National Energy Master Plan.
He expressed optimism that Nigeria’s formal association with the IEA and the signing of the Joint Work Programme would provide a stronger foundation for cooperation between the Energy Commission and the international agency.
With the new framework now in place, Nigeria is expected to gain greater access to the IEA’s expertise and international energy data while strengthening its capacity to develop policies capable of attracting investment and improving energy security.
