President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has restated Nigeria’s readiness to collaborate with African nations, global partners, and the private sector to deliver cleaner, affordable, inclusive, and more secure energy, stressing that energy remains central to peace, prosperity, and global stability.
The President made this known on Tuesday in Abuja while declaring open the 9th Nigeria International Energy Summit, which attracted heads of delegation and senior government officials from across the globe, alongside leaders of international energy organisations, chief executives of global and indigenous energy companies, development finance institutions, and representatives of host communities.
Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima, President Tinubu described energy as the invisible force holding the modern world together, noting that it is the quiet architecture of balance among nations and the unseen hand that steadies economies and sustains societies.
He said Nigeria is placing strong focus on the use of its vast gas reserves as a transition fuel while expanding renewable energy capacity.
“Energy must unite communities, stabilize economies, and secure futures. It must power factories, illuminate homes, fuel innovation, and build trust between government, investors, and citizens,” the President said.
“Nigeria stands ready to collaborate with Africa, global partners, and the private sector to deliver energy that is secure, affordable, cleaner, and inclusive,” he added.
President Tinubu recalled that when his administration came into office in 2023, it inherited an energy sector rich in potential but constrained by inefficiencies, uncertainty, and prolonged underinvestment.
He said the government began work immediately, guided by the understanding that energy cannot be treated only as an economic commodity if stability is the goal.
“Energy is a catalyst for national security, industrial growth, social inclusion, and regional cooperation,” he stated.
The President assured that his administration is fully committed to building an energy system that delivers reliability, transparency, sustainability, and shared prosperity.
Outlining steps taken to strengthen the sector, he said his administration has sustained and deepened the full implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act, consolidating its role as the live wire of sector reform.
He noted that regulatory institutions have been strengthened to ensure clarity of roles, transparency, and improved investor confidence.
According to him, Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas activity recorded a historic rebound under his watch.
“Rig counts rose from eight rigs in 2021 to sixty-nine rigs by late 2025,” he said.
The President also disclosed that the sector secured Final Investment Decisions exceeding eight billion United States dollars, including major offshore gas developments involving global energy companies.
He added that foreign direct investment into the oil and gas subsector rebounded strongly, driven by regulatory certainty, fiscal reforms, and improved operating conditions.
Addressing crude oil theft, President Tinubu said the challenge declined significantly due to enhanced security coordination, surveillance, and regulatory enforcement.
He explained that these efforts restored operational stability and improved Nigeria’s production reliability in international markets.
The President further said deliberate leadership appointments across key regulatory and development institutions reinforced professionalism, accountability, and effectiveness.
He highlighted early reforms such as fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange liberalisation, saying they repositioned the sector’s economics and improved market efficiency.
“While these measures required national sacrifice, they laid the foundation for sustainability, fiscal resilience, and investor confidence,” he said.
President Tinubu added that industry stakeholders and independent experts have described the reforms as transformational, aligning Nigeria’s energy sector with global best practices.
Formally declaring the summit open, the President urged participants to engage constructively, invest confidently, and partner purposefully with Nigeria.
Earlier, Gambian President Adama Barrow said Nigeria’s energy policies have implications far beyond its borders, stressing that cooperation through strategic partnerships is vital to regional solutions and energy security.
President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, said Africa must move beyond being a mere exporter of raw materials and focus on processing them for future generations.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, in a speech read on his behalf, said that in Africa, energy is not just about resources but about inclusive and sustainable prosperity.
He assured that the National Assembly is ready to work with relevant stakeholders by providing legislative backing.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, said the summit serves as a call to action to make energy a champion for advancement.
He commended the Dangote Refinery, BUA, and other refiners for making significant investments in Nigeria’s energy sector.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, said collaboration remains essential in building a reliable energy system.
He stated that President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is positioning gas as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s energy security.
Ekpo added that the government is strengthening oil and gas stability, supporting regional integration, and building on gains recorded.
Speaking on behalf of the Independent Petroleum Producers Group, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Aradel Holdings Plc, Adegbite Falade, said gas production in Nigeria has grown significantly since 2025.
He noted that indigenous producers are increasingly being allowed to thrive through approved reforms and executive orders.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, said Africa is at a turning point in the energy sector.
He said Nigeria is well positioned to lead, with over thirty-seven billion barrels of oil potential, describing the country as an emerging global energy powerhouse.
The summit was attended by leaders of international energy organisations, executives of global and indigenous companies, development finance institutions, and representatives of host communities, reflecting broad interest in Nigeria’s energy direction. Discussions at the event centred on cooperation, investment confidence, regulatory clarity, and practical pathways to balance energy security with affordability and cleaner supply. Participants engaged around shared priorities, with emphasis on gas as a transition fuel, expanding renewables, and strengthening institutions to support long term stability and inclusive growth across the sector nationwide.
