Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Federal Government and ExxonMobil have reaffirmed their commitment to advancing Nigeria’s energy reforms and accelerating new investments, as both sides held high-level talks on the oil major’s project pipeline and execution priorities for 2026.
Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Energy, Mrs. Olu Verheijen, disclosed this after receiving Jagi Baxi, Managing Director of ExxonMobil Nigeria, and members of the company’s leadership team on a New Year courtesy visit in Abuja.
Verheijen said the engagement focused on ExxonMobil’s planned investments and the policy frameworks required to ensure timely delivery of projects critical to Nigeria’s energy security.
“We engaged in productive discussions on ExxonMobil’s pipeline of projects and investment priorities for the year, and explored the policy frameworks needed to ensure their timely execution,” she said.
According to her, the meeting underscored the alignment between the Tinubu administration’s energy reform agenda and the investment expectations of international oil companies operating in Nigeria.
“The meeting reaffirmed our shared commitment to advancing Nigeria’s energy reform agenda and strengthening energy security for the benefit of all Nigerians,” Verheijen stated.
The discussions come amid ongoing government efforts to improve fiscal terms, regulatory clarity and project execution timelines in order to attract and retain upstream and gas investments, particularly as Nigeria positions gas as a transition fuel and seeks to boost production and infrastructure development.
ExxonMobil remains one of Nigeria’s key international energy investors, with interests spanning deepwater oil production and gas development.
Industry watchers say sustained policy engagement with operators will be crucial to unlocking new capital flows and stabilising output in the coming years.
The Presidency has consistently maintained that close collaboration with investors, alongside predictable and investor-friendly policies, is central to achieving long-term energy security and economic growth.
