Nigeria has formally begun a new phase of cooperation with the International Energy Agency (IEA), following its admission as an Association country and the signing of the first IEA-Nigeria Joint Work Programme.

IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol met with Vice President Kashim Shettima, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) Ekperikpe Ekpo and senior government and energy-sector officials in Abuja this week.

The visit marked a significant step in strengthening Nigeria’s engagement with the global energy community.

The IEA Governing Board unanimously approved Nigeria’s admission as an Association country in June.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and one of its largest economies, is a major oil and natural gas producer and an increasingly important participant in regional and global energy markets.

During his meeting with Vice President Shettima at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Birol discussed Nigeria’s energy and economic priorities and the opportunities presented by closer cooperation with the IEA.

“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,” Vice President Shettima said. “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.”

“Nigeria joining the IEA Family is a landmark moment – for Nigeria, for Africa and for the IEA,” Dr Birol said. “Nigeria is one of the world’s most important emerging economies and a major energy producer, with a young and rapidly growing population. Its voice and experience belong at the heart of the global energy conversation. It was a pleasure to meet with the Vice President and Nigeria’s energy leaders in Abuja as we begin this new chapter together. Our partnership, with special thanks to Minister Ekpo as the host and driving force behind this, will help the IEA engage more deeply with energy systems in Africa, while leveraging our expertise and international network in support of Nigeria’s priorities – from strengthening energy security and further realising its huge energy potential to expanding access to electricity and clean cooking solutions.”

Minister Ekpo said the new programme demonstrated Nigeria’s commitment to the partnership and its participation in international energy discussions.

“I am delighted to host the IEA Executive Director in Abuja to celebrate this important milestone of Nigeria having become an Association country of the IEA,” Minister Ekpo said. “The signature of our first Joint Work Programme at the Presidential Villa signals the highest level of commitment of Nigeria to deliver on this partnership, benefiting from the IEA s tremendous wealth of knowledge and expertise. Nigeria is honoured to be at the table of global energy discussions.”

The new partnership also expands the IEA’s engagement across Africa. With Nigeria joining South Africa, Kenya and Senegal as Association countries in sub-Saharan Africa, African perspectives will have a greater presence in the Agency’s activities.

The IEA Family now represents more than 80% of global energy demand, compared with around 40% in 2015, reflecting the Agency’s expanded engagement with emerging and developing economies.

Nigeria brings significant energy resources and challenges to the partnership. With more than 240 million people, the country is a major oil and gas producer and exporter and has a growing off-grid renewable energy sector.

However, it also faces rising energy demand, investment needs and challenges in expanding reliable and affordable electricity and clean cooking access.

The Joint Work Programme provides a roadmap for cooperation in energy security, investment, data and statistics, energy efficiency and clean cooking.

It will also support policy advice, analysis, training and data cooperation between Nigerian institutions and IEA experts.

The programme builds on more than a decade of cooperation, including recent work on energy data, capacity building and methane emissions.

In February 2026, Nigeria and the IEA also signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Paris to strengthen policy dialogue, data exchange, capacity building and international engagement. -OGN/TradeArabia News Service