Nigeria and the International Energy Agency (IEA) have entered into a Joint Work Programme aimed at deepening their cooperation on energy data, policy development and investment across the sector, with the broader goal of promoting economic growth and strengthening energy security.
Vice President Kashim Shettima described Nigeria’s formal admission into the IEA as an association country as a major achievement, saying it demonstrates the progress recorded through the economic reforms of President Bola
Shettima made the remarks yesterday at the signing ceremony of the Joint Work Programme between Nigeria and the IEA, which marked the official beginning of the new partnership.
Representing President Tinubu, Shettima said, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, that Nigeria’s entry into the Paris-based organisation validates the administration’s policy direction and its efforts to maximise the country’s vast energy resources.
He praised the for its contribution to the global energy sector, noting that its role in helping countries address issues surrounding energy security, affordability, sustainability and economic development remains significant.
His words: “Nigeria’s admission as an association country with the IEA is a significant milestone for our country, and it reflects Nigeria’s strategic importance in the global energy landscape and the confidence that IEA has placed in our commitment to constructive international energy cooperation.”
The Vice President further noted that Nigeria’s enormous potential would enable the country to gain from the agency’s experience and expertise.
He added that “the country will benefit from IEA’s institutional knowledge, the intellectual resources, the reach and expertise to support our nation’s ambitions in this sector.”
Shettima also highlighted Nigeria’s considerable renewable energy potential and reaffirmed the administration’s determination to transform the economy by making better use of the country’s available resources.
He assured the IEA delegation that the government would continue to work with relevant stakeholders and contribute meaningfully to international discussions on achieving a fair and inclusive energy transition.
Earlier, the head of the IEA delegation, Dr Fatih Birol, explained that the Paris-based organisation brings together governments and covers a wide range of energy technologies, including oil, gas, solar power, nuclear energy, artificial intelligence and electric vehicles.
Birol said the agency works with hundreds of leading energy experts globally to provide policy guidance, share data and offer technical expertise. He noted that joining the IEA family involves a rigorous process that requires extensive consideration and evaluation.
According to Birol, following detailed discussions with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo, the IEA Board, made up of governments including the United States, Japan, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, unanimously approved Nigeria’s membership.
“The IEA will accompany the Nigerian energy sector for the next few years to come for a much better energy future. We will provide policy advice from clean cooking to gas markets, from gas markets to training Nigerian experts at the IEA at our own,” he assured.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo, said Nigeria’s admission into the IEA was influenced by the performance of the Tinubu administration and the economic reforms implemented under the government.
He explained that the Joint Work Programme would bring IEA technical experts into closer cooperation with Nigeria in producing reliable data for energy policy and investment decisions across the value chain, while supporting economic development and energy security.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanoaiye, described the partnership as strategically significant to Nigeria, adding that the Nigerian Mission in Paris played an important role in facilitating the process.
He pledged the support of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and said, “Our role is to ensure that whatever government does at home is projected effectively in advancing and promoting the interest of Nigeria.
“We take this as a critical component of our national interest, and we will not fail in ensuring that we assist, as facilitators and coordinators, in ensuring that the maximum benefit of this endeavour is derived for the benefit of the Nigerian people.”
The Director General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, said the Commission’s previous collaboration with the IEA resulted in the joint sponsorship of Nigeria’s most recent National Energy Master Plan, despite the absence of a formal framework for cooperation.
He expressed confidence that Nigeria’s formal association with the IEA and the new Joint Work Programme would further deepen and strengthen the relationship between the Commission and the international agency.
