Nigeria and the International Energy Agency (IEA) have entered into an energy pact designed to strengthen cooperation in energy policy, data development, investment and energy security. The Joint Work Programme was signed on 3rd September 2026, marking the formal start of Nigeria’s partnership with the Paris-based organisation as an Association Country.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications, (Office of The Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha. Speaking on behalf of Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu at the signing ceremony, Vice-President Kashim Shettima called Nigeria’s admission into the IEA a major milestone and said it reflected the gains achieved through the administration’s economic reforms. He added that the development validated the government’s policy choices and its efforts to make use of Nigeria’s abundant energy resources.
“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,” he said.
Shettima said the energy pact would provide Nigeria with access to the agency’s expertise and institutional resources as the country pursues its energy ambitions.
Highlighting Nigeria’s energy potential, he said, “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.”
IEA to Provide Policy Advice, Data and Technical Expertise
Shettima also pointed to Nigeria’s significant renewable energy resources and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to repositioning the economy by leveraging the resources available in the country. He assured the IEA that Nigeria was prepared to engage with international partners on discussions concerning a fair and just energy transition.
IEA Executive Director Dr. Fatih Birol said Nigeria’s admission came after extensive consideration and consultations with the country’s authorities. He noted that the IEA covers a broad range of energy technologies, including oil, gas, solar, nuclear power, artificial intelligence and electric vehicles.
According to Birol, Nigeria’s admission was unanimously approved by the IEA Board, comprising the governments of the United States, Japan, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.
Under the energy pact, the agency will support Nigeria’s energy sector over the coming years through policy advice, data and technical expertise.
“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 said.
Joint Programme to Support Energy Policy and Investment
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, attributed Nigeria’s admission into the IEA to the performance of the Tinubu administration and the reforms implemented by the government. He said the Joint Work Programme would enable greater participation by IEA technical experts in developing data that can guide energy policy and investment across the value chain.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, described the partnership as strategically important to Nigeria and recognised the contribution of the Nigerian Mission in Paris in facilitating the process. He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would support the initiative so that Nigeria could obtain maximum benefit from the partnership.
Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, said the Commission had already worked with the IEA on the joint sponsorship of Nigeria’s National Energy Master Plan, despite there being no formal framework governing their relationship. He expressed optimism that Nigeria’s new status and the Joint Work Programme would deepen cooperation between the two organisations.
