Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Nigeria has reaffirmed its position as Africa’s premier energy investment destination, highlighting data-driven opportunities, a robust policy framework, and long-term sectoral stability as key factors driving renewed investor confidence in the country’s oil and gas industry.
Speaking at the OPEC–Africa Roundtable at the just concluded African Energy Week, AEW 2025, in Cape Town, South Africa, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, said Nigeria’s reformed energy landscape offers some of the continent’s most competitive and transparent conditions for investors seeking sustainable and high-yield opportunities.
“Data-driven investment opportunities, a robust policy framework, and long-term stability are among the key assets available to investors in Nigeria’s dynamic energy sector,” Lokpobiri said.
“These pillars not only enhance confidence but also highlight our commitment to fostering a conducive environment for sustainable growth and innovation.”
The Minister explained that recent policy reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration have laid the foundation for stability and profitability across upstream, midstream, and downstream operations.
He emphasized that the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, has created a strong governance structure that balances investor interest with community participation and environmental responsibility.
“We have built a framework that guarantees clarity, consistency, and confidence for investors. Our goal is simple, to make Nigeria not just a place to invest, but a place to grow with.”
Lokpobiri used the forum to extend an open invitation to both regional and global investors, urging them to view Nigeria not merely as a market, but as a strategic partner in Africa’s energy transformation.
“I invite you to come to Nigeria, build with us, and profit with us, not as distant investors, but as co-architects of a future where Africa’s largest energy producer powers Africa’s growth and anchors global markets,” he declared.
The Minister underscored Nigeria’s commitment to driving investment through data transparency, regulatory consistency, and investor-friendly fiscal terms.
He noted that Nigeria’s energy expansion agenda, from upstream exploration to gas monetization and refining, is guided by empirical data and real-time analytics that reduce risk and improve project predictability.
“We are now leveraging accurate data and market intelligence to shape investment decisions, optimize production, and ensure value creation across the energy value chain,” he said.
At the OPEC–Africa Roundtable, discussions focused on deepening collaboration among oil-producing African nations to secure investment, accelerate energy diversification, and strengthen resilience against global market volatility. Nigeria’s presentation was acknowledged as one of the most comprehensive and forward-looking policy outlines at the forum.
Lokpobiri emphasized that Nigeria’s leadership within OPEC and across the African Petroleum Producers Organization, APPO, is central to aligning African producers with global market opportunities while maintaining energy sovereignty.
“As we strengthen regional partnerships and build energy infrastructure, our focus remains on ensuring that African resources power African development. Nigeria is ready to lead in this new era of responsible and profitable energy growth.”
“The message from Nigeria is clear and confident. The opportunities are vast, the frameworks are strong, and the time to invest is now,” Lokpobiri concluded.
