Abuja: The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has described Nigeria’s admission into the International Energy Agency (IEA) as an Association Country as a major milestone in the country’s drive toward universal energy access.
Ekpo said this in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by his spokesperson, Louis Ibah.
He said the development would deepen Nigeria’s participation in global energy governance while advancing the country’s goals of industrialisation, energy security and sustainable energy development.
According to the minister, the unanimous decision of the IEA Governing Board to admit Nigeria reflects the country’s growing strategic importance in the global energy landscape.
“I am delighted by the decision of IEA members to officially welcome Nigeria into the IEA family as an Association Country,” he said.
“It is an honour for Nigeria to join this leading global energy agency.”
He said the partnership would give Nigeria greater access to global energy expertise, research and policy insights, while strengthening collaboration in areas such as energy security, investment mobilisation, gas development, electricity access and sustainable energy solutions.
“I also encourage other African countries to deepen their engagement with the IEA as we work together to achieve key development goals, including universal energy access and industrialisation,” he added.
Ekpo said the partnership would support Nigeria’s efforts to build a more resilient, competitive and sustainable energy sector.
He added that the admission underscored Nigeria’s growing role in global energy policy and reaffirmed its commitment to working with international partners to promote a sustainable energy future.
Welcoming Nigeria into the organisation, IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol described the admission as a significant milestone for both the agency and the global energy community.
“I am thrilled that Nigeria is joining the IEA. It is Africa’s most populous country and a major international energy player,” Birol said.
“Nigeria becoming part of the world’s energy authority marks an important advance in global energy governance.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu and Ekpo for their confidence in the agency, noting that closer collaboration would support Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen energy security, promote economic growth and expand access to electricity and clean cooking solutions.
Birol also acknowledged Nigeria’s growing influence in international energy markets, particularly through recent developments in its refining sector.
According to him, increased fuel exports from Nigeria during periods of market disruption have helped support the resilience of African and global fuel markets.
He said Nigeria has also emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing markets for decentralised solar energy solutions and is stepping up efforts to expand access to electricity and clean cooking.
NAN reports that Nigeria is the latest country to join the IEA’s Association Programme, which brings together major energy-producing and energy-consuming countries to promote secure, affordable and sustainable energy systems.
With Nigeria’s admission, the IEA family now accounts for more than 80 per cent of global energy demand, compared with 40 per cent when the programme was launched in 2015.
