The Federal Government of Nigeria has secured land for the development of a world-class global energy and events centre in Nigeria, in a move aimed at positioning the country as a leading hub for international energy dialogue, investment and policy engagement.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, disclosed this at the 9th Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES 2026), where he described the 2026 edition of the summit as the most impactful since its inception due to the unprecedented participation of top policymakers, investors and global energy leaders.
Lokpobiri said the proposed facility would be industry-driven, sustainably managed to international standards and designed to attract major global energy conferences and high-level investment engagements to Nigeria.
He noted that the decision to develop the centre was informed by the quality and scale of participation recorded at NIES 2026, which he said ranked among the highest concentrations of stakeholders at any global energy conference.
According to the Minister, the success of the summit was not only a product of planning but also of the calibre of attendees, stressing that Nigeria must now invest in domestic infrastructure capable of supporting its growing role in global energy conversations.
He challenged industry stakeholders to commit resources to infrastructure that would strengthen Nigeria’s leadership in the oil and gas sector and support industrialisation, energy security and economic growth.
At the National Gas Day session of the summit, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, said Nigeria was at a defining moment in the global energy transition, with natural gas positioned as the country’s key growth driver. He noted that Nigeria holds over 210 trillion cubic feet of 2P gas reserves, the largest in Africa, but emphasised that the true value of gas lies in its ability to deliver power, create jobs, earn foreign exchange and improve the quality of life of Nigerians.
Ekpo described natural gas as Nigeria’s critical bridge fuel, supporting electricity expansion, industrial growth, reduction of energy poverty and the country’s climate commitments under the Renewed Hope Agenda and the Decade of Gas Initiative.
He outlined key achievements of the current administration in the gas sector, including the stabilisation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) supply through increased domestication, the resolution of long-standing gas-to-power debts, the nationwide rollout of the Free LPG Cylinder Distribution Programme, and Nigeria’s growing global relevance following its election as Secretary-General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Patience Oyekunle, expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his sustained support for reforms in the energy sector, and to Vice President Kashim Shettima for attending the opening ceremony of the summit.
She commended the participation of African leaders, including the Presidents of the Gambia and Equatorial Guinea, describing their presence as a strong demonstration of African solidarity and regional cooperation in addressing shared energy challenges.
Mrs Oyekunle noted that over four days of intensive deliberations, NIES 2026 once again affirmed its status as a premier platform for cross-sector engagement, bringing together policymakers, investors, innovators and development partners to advance energy security, inclusive energy access and cleaner energy systems across Africa.
Lateefah Ibrahim