By Ayodele Quadri, Lagos Times Correspondent
ABUJA — Nigeria and the International Energy Agency (IEA) signed an agreement on Thursday, September 3, 2026, in Abuja for a comprehensive Joint Work Programme designed to boost technical expertise, improve data development, and attract global investments across the nation’s energy value chain.
The pact was formalized at the Presidential Villa in Abuja by Vice President Kashim Shettima—representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu—and IEA Executive Director Dr. Fatih Birol. The agreement follows the IEA Governing Board’s unanimous vote to admit Nigeria as an Association Country, making it the first member of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to join the Paris-based global energy watchdog.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Vice President Shettima described Nigeria’s formal admission as a major validation of the administration’s economic reforms and a reflection of the country’s strategic importance in the global energy landscape. IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol highlighted that the partnership aims to help scale up financing and potentially double energy investments in Nigeria over the next five years.
The Joint Work Programme will focus on critical energy priority areas, including natural gas development, grid electrification, energy efficiency, methane emissions reduction, and clean cooking expansion, while providing direct policy advice and specialized training for Nigerian experts at the IEA headquarters.
