IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol met with Vice President Kashim Shettima of Nigeria, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) Ekperikpe Ekpo and other leaders from across the country's government and energy sector in Abuja this week, marking Nigeria's entry into the IEA Family as an Association country and the start of a new phase of cooperation.
The official visit follows the unanimous decision by the IEA's Governing Board in June to welcome Nigeria as an Association country, a major development for the Agency's engagement with Africa and for international energy cooperation. Nigeria is Africa's most populous country and one of its largest economies, as well as a major oil and natural gas producer and an increasingly important player in regional and global energy markets.
In the meeting with Vice President Shettima at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja, which was attended by several ministers and senior figures from across the government, Dr Birol discussed Nigeria's energy and economic priorities and the opportunities created by the country's closer engagement with the IEA.
