Nigeria and the International Energy Agency, IEA, have signed an agreement for a Joint Work Programme to strengthen strategic partnership in the development of data for energy policy and investment across the value chain for economic growth and energy security.
This is as the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has said Nigeria’s formal admission into the IEA is a significant milestone for the country and another testament to the gains of the economic reforms of the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Senator Shettima stated this on Thursday in Abuja during the signing of the agreement for the Joint Work Programme between Nigeria and IEA, signaling the formal commencement of the partnership.
Speaking on behalf of President Tinubu, the Vice President noted that Nigeria’s formal entry into the fold of the Paris-based non-governmental organisation justifies policy choices and efforts aimed at leveraging the country’s abundant energy resources scattered across the nation.
He commended the IEA for the important role it is playing in shaping global energy landscape.
Shettima said the effort of the agency in the global energy conversation and in supporting countries to navigate the challenges of energy security, affordability, sustainability and economic development, cannot be overstated.
“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.
VP Shettima added that 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.”
He acknowledged Nigeria’s abundant renewable energy resources and Nigeria’s commitment to repositioning the economy leveraging available resources.
The Vice President assured the IEA team of the Tinubu administration’s commitment to continue to partner with other stakeholders to contribute to the global energy debate on a fair and just energy transition.
Earlier, leader of the delegation, Dr. Fatih Birol explained that the IEA is an organisation that covers all technological fields.
He said the IEA works with top 500 energy experts of the world in terms of giving policy advice, sharing data and expertise, adding to be a member of the IEA family is not an easy task, as it requires a lot of considerations and tests.
According to Dr. Birol, after detailed discussions with the Minister of State for Petroleum and Gas, Mr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, the board comprising the governments of the United States, Japan, Germany, Italy, and UK voted and accepted Nigeria unanimously as a member.
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