Nigeria and the International Energy Agency have signed a Joint Work Programme aimed at improving energy data, policy development and investment across the country’s energy sector.
The agreement was signed in Abuja on Thursday, with Vice President Kashim Shettima representing President Bola Tinubu at the event.
Shettima described Nigeria’s formal admission as an association country of the IEA as an important milestone, saying the partnership would help the country make better use of its energy resources.
He said Nigeria would benefit from the agency’s technical expertise, institutional knowledge and international network as the government works to improve energy security and drive economic growth.
The Vice President also reaffirmed the government’s willingness to work with international partners on energy development and contribute to global discussions on a fair and sustainable energy transition.
IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said the agency’s partnership with Nigeria would cover various areas, including oil and gas, solar power, nuclear energy, artificial intelligence and electric vehicles.
Birol said Nigeria’s admission followed extensive discussions and assessments before the IEA board approved the country’s entry unanimously.
He said the agency would support Nigeria in the coming years through policy advice, data sharing and training for Nigerian energy professionals.
The Joint Work Programme will also provide technical support for the development of energy data needed for policymaking and investment decisions across the energy value chain.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, said Nigeria’s admission reflected the reforms undertaken by the Tinubu administration.
The Director General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Mustapha Abdullahi, said the agreement would further strengthen the commission’s relationship with the IEA.
He noted that the two organisations had previously collaborated on Nigeria’s National Energy Master Plan, although their relationship had not been backed by a formal framework.
