NIES 2026: Nigeria Pushes Global Energy Partnerships

Nigeria has urged deeper collaboration with African countries, international partners and private investors to accelerate the delivery of cleaner, affordable and secure energy, as the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES 2026) opened in Abuja.

President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, positioned energy as a strategic pillar for economic stability, industrialisation and regional cooperation, noting that stronger partnerships will be critical to unlocking investment and expanding access.

The summit, which runs from February 2 to 5 under the theme “Energy for Peace and Progress: Securing Our Shared Future,” has convened policymakers, investors and industry leaders to explore financing, infrastructure expansion and policy coordination across Africa’s energy landscape. Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited is the national sponsor.

Officials pointed to ongoing sector reforms, including implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act, improved security across oil-producing corridors and renewed upstream investment momentum, as indicators of a repositioned energy industry.

Authorities also reaffirmed Nigeria’s approach of deploying natural gas as a transition fuel while scaling renewable capacity to support long-term energy security and sustainability.

Speakers at the summit emphasised that regional cooperation, value addition and policy alignment will be central to strengthening Africa’s energy resilience and supporting economic growth.