By Chesa Chesa
Nigeria and the International Energy Agency (IEA) have signed an agreement for a Joint Work Programme aimed at strengthening cooperation on energy data, policy development, investment and energy security.
The agreement was signed on Thursday, marking the formal commencement of Nigeria’s partnership with the Paris-based organisation.
Speaking on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima described Nigeria’s admission as an IEA Association Country as a significant milestone and a validation of the administration’s economic reforms.
Shettima said the development reflected Nigeria’s strategic importance in the global energy landscape and the confidence placed in the country’s commitment to international energy cooperation.
“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,” he said.
According to him, Nigeria stands to benefit from the IEA’s institutional knowledge, expertise and global reach in advancing its energy ambitions.
The Vice President said the partnership was also a justification of the policy choices of the Tinubu administration, particularly efforts to leverage Nigeria’s abundant energy resources to drive economic growth.
He noted that Nigeria’s renewable energy potential and other resources could support the repositioning of the economy, while assuring the IEA of the administration’s commitment to working with stakeholders towards a fair and just global energy transition.
Earlier, IEA Executive Director, Dr Fatih Birol, said the agency covers all major energy technologies, including oil, gas, solar, nuclear power, artificial intelligence and electric vehicles.
Birol said Nigeria’s admission followed extensive discussions and considerations, with the IEA Board comprising governments including the United States, Japan, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom unanimously approving the country’s membership.
He pledged the agency’s support to Nigeria’s energy sector, including policy advice on clean cooking and gas markets, as well as training for Nigerian experts.
“The IEA will accompany the Nigerian energy sector for the next few years to come for a much better energy future,” Birol said.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, said Nigeria’s admission reflected the performance of the Tinubu administration and its ongoing economic reforms.
He explained that the Joint Work Programme would facilitate the involvement of IEA technical experts in developing data to support energy policy and investment decisions across the value chain.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, described the partnership as strategically important to Nigeria, saying the Nigerian Mission in Paris played a key role in facilitating the process.
The Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, said the Commission had previously collaborated with the IEA on Nigeria’s National Energy Master Plan, but noted that the new agreement would provide a stronger framework for the relationship.
