Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has framed energy as Africa’s most strategic tool for peace, regional stability, and economic integration, declaring that Nigeria is ready to lead a new era of energy diplomacy anchored on collaboration, trust, and shared prosperity.
Speaking at the just concluded 9th Nigeria International Energy Summit, NIES 2026, in Abuja, the President, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said energy must evolve beyond production and trade to become a stabilising force across nations and communities.
“Energy is the invisible force holding the modern world together. It is the quiet architecture of balance among nations, the unseen hand that steadies economies and sustains societies,” Tinubu said.
He stressed that Nigeria’s energy vision is deliberately aligned with peace-building, economic inclusion, and regional cooperation.
“Energy must unite communities, stabilise economies, and secure futures. It must power factories, illuminate homes, fuel innovation, and build trust between government, investors, and citizens,” the President added.
Nigeria Seeks Continental Energy Leadership
Tinubu said Nigeria is repositioning itself as a reliable energy partner for Africa and the global market by deepening reforms and strengthening institutional credibility.
“Nigeria stands ready to collaborate with African nations, global partners, and the private sector to deliver energy that is secure, affordable, cleaner, and inclusive,” he declared.
He noted that his administration inherited an energy sector weakened by uncertainty and underinvestment, but has since taken deliberate steps to restore confidence.
“We inherited an energy sector rich in potential but constrained by inefficiencies, uncertainty, and prolonged underinvestment. We set to work without fanfare, guided by the understanding that energy is a catalyst for security, growth, and regional cooperation,” Tinubu said.
PIA, Security Reforms Strengthen Nigeria’s Credibility
The President identified the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, as central to rebuilding Nigeria’s standing in Africa’s energy diplomacy.
“We sustained and deepened the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act, strengthening regulation, transparency, and investor confidence across the oil and gas value chain,” he said.
He added that improved security coordination has reduced crude oil theft and enhanced Nigeria’s reliability as a supplier.
“Crude oil theft declined significantly due to enhanced surveillance, security coordination, and regulatory enforcement. These efforts restored operational stability and strengthened Nigeria’s credibility in international markets,” Tinubu noted.
Gas as the Bridge to Shared Prosperity
President Tinubu reiterated that natural gas remains Nigeria’s primary transition fuel and a unifying economic resource for Africa.
“Nigeria is focusing heavily on utilising its vast gas reserves as a transition fuel while expanding renewable energy capacity to support inclusive growth,” he said.
He stressed that Africa’s energy future must reflect global realities.
“No nation can afford an abrupt energy disconnect. Our path must be pragmatic, inclusive, and development-focused,” the President said.
African Leaders Endorse Cooperative Energy Future
Other African leaders at the summit echoed Tinubu’s call for cooperation. Gambian President, Adama Barrow, said Nigeria’s leadership carries continental significance.
“Nigeria’s energy policies have implications far beyond its borders. Strategic partnerships are essential for regional solutions and energy security,” Barrow said.
Equatorial Guinea’s President, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, urged Africa to retain more value from its resources.
“Africa must stop being merely an exporter of raw materials and begin processing its resources for the benefit of future generations,” he said.
NNPC: Nigeria at the Centre of Africa’s Energy Future
The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, said Africa is approaching a defining moment.
“Energy has become the lifeblood of global peace, security, and human development. Nigeria stands not at the margins, but at the centre of Africa’s evolving energy landscape,” Ojulari said.
Declaring the summit open, President Tinubu urged stakeholders to translate dialogue into action.
