President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday declared that Nigeria is poised to work with African neighbours, international allies, and private investors to deliver secure, affordable, and cleaner energy.
Speaking through Vice-President Kashim Shettima at the ninth Nigeria International Energy Summit in Abuja, President Tinubu described energy as “the invisible force holding the modern world together” and the “quiet architecture of balance among nations”.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications Stanley Nkwocha
in a statement said that President emphasised the role of energy in fostering peace, prosperity, and global stability.
The summit drew heads of delegations, senior officials from around the world, leaders of energy organisations, executives from global and local firms, development banks, and host communities.
President Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s push to harness its vast gas reserves as a transition fuel while expanding renewables.
He said “Energy must unite communities, stabilise economies and secure futures,” he said. “Nigeria stands ready to collaborate with Africa, global partners, and the private sector to deliver energy that is secure, affordable, cleaner and inclusive.”
President Tinubu said his government inherited an energy sector in 2023 brimming with potential but hampered by inefficiencies and underinvestment.
The administration according to him has prioritised the Petroleum Industry Act, boosting upstream activity: rig counts jumped from eight in 2021 to 69 by late 2025, with final investment decisions topping $8bn (£6.3bn), including major offshore gas projects.
He said crude oil theft has fallen sharply through better security, restoring production stability while reforms such as fuel subsidy removal and currency liberalisation have improved market efficiency and investor confidence, despite short-term sacrifices.
“These measures laid the foundation for sustainability, fiscal resilience and investor confidence,” Tinubu said, urging participants to “engage constructively, invest confidently and partner purposefully”.
Gambian President Adama Barrow in his remarks at the event praised Nigeria’s policies for their regional impact, calling for strategic partnerships.
On his part, Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo urged Africa to process raw materials locally for future generations.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio stressed legislative support for sustainable prosperity, while Petroleum Resources Minister Heineken Lokpobiri hailed investments by refiners like Dangote and BUA.
Ministers and industry leaders, including NNPC Ltd’s Group CEO Bashir Bayo Ojulari, positioned Nigeria—with 37bn barrels of oil potential—as an emerging energy powerhouse leading Africa’s transition.
