Nigeria and the International Energy Agency (IEA) have signed a Joint Work Programme (JWP) aimed at strengthening cooperation in energy data, policy development and investment across the sector.
The agreement, signed in Abuja on September 3, 2026, is expected to support Nigeria’s efforts to achieve economic growth and improve energy security while deepening its strategic relationship with the Paris-based organisation.
President Bola Tinubu said the partnership would give Nigeria access to the IEA’s institutional knowledge, intellectual resources and global expertise as the country works to advance its energy ambitions.
Nigeria’s Admission into the IEA
Vice President Kashim Shettima described Nigeria’s formal admission as an association country of the IEA as a major milestone and another indication of the progress being made through the economic reforms of the Tinubu administration.
Speaking on behalf of President Tinubu during the signing ceremony, Shettima said Nigeria’s entry into the IEA reflects the government’s efforts to harness the country’s vast energy resources and use them to drive economic development.
He also praised the IEA for its role in shaping the global energy landscape and helping countries address major challenges involving energy security, affordability, sustainability and economic development.
“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,” Shettima said in a statement by his media aide, Stanley Nkwocha.
He noted that Nigeria’s enormous energy potential would benefit from the agency’s global experience and technical capacity.
Given Nigeria’s potential, “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.”
Shettima further highlighted Nigeria’s substantial renewable energy resources and the administration’s determination to reposition the economy by maximising the country’s available resources.
He assured the IEA delegation that the Tinubu administration would continue working with stakeholders to contribute meaningfully to international discussions on energy and promote a fair and just energy transition.
IEA Pledges Support for Nigeria’s Energy Sector
The IEA delegation was led by its Executive Director, Fatih Birol, who explained that the organisation works with governments across a broad range of energy and technology areas, including oil, gas, solar power, nuclear energy, artificial intelligence and electric vehicles.
According to Birol, the IEA works with hundreds of leading energy experts around the world to provide policy advice, data and technical expertise to member and partner countries.
He noted that becoming part of the IEA family is a rigorous process involving extensive consultations and assessments.
Birol said that following detailed discussions with Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Ekperikpe Ekpo, the IEA’s governing board, comprising governments including the United States, Japan, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, unanimously approved Nigeria’s admission.
“The IEA will accompany the Nigerian energy sector for the next few years to come for a much better energy future. We will provide policy advice from clean cooking to gas markets, from gas markets to training Nigerian experts at the IEA on our own,” he was quoted as saying.
Joint Programme to Improve Energy Data and Investment
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) said Nigeria’s admission into the IEA was linked to the performance of the Tinubu administration and the reforms implemented across the economy.
He explained that the signing of the Joint Work Programme would facilitate closer collaboration between Nigeria and the IEA technical team, particularly in developing reliable data to guide energy policy and investment decisions across the value chain.
The initiative is expected to support Nigeria’s broader objectives of achieving sustainable economic growth and strengthening national energy security.
Partnership Expected to Deepen Existing Cooperation
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanoaiye, described the partnership between Nigeria and the IEA as strategically significant. He also acknowledged the important role played by Nigeria’s Mission in Paris in helping to make the partnership possible.
Meanwhile, the Director General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Mustapha Abdullahi, said the Commission had already maintained a working relationship with the IEA.
He recalled that the relationship had previously resulted in the joint sponsorship of Nigeria’s most recent National Energy Master Plan, despite the absence of a formal structure governing the partnership.
Abdullahi expressed optimism that Nigeria’s formal association with the IEA and the new Joint Work Programme would provide a stronger framework for cooperation and further deepen the Energy Commission’s relationship with the international agency.
The new agreement is therefore expected to mark a new phase in Nigeria’s engagement with the IEA, providing greater access to international expertise, energy data and technical support as the country works towards a more secure, sustainable and investment-friendly energy future.
