Photo: Nigerian Minister of State for Petroleum Resources ( Gas) Ekperikpe Ekpo (left) and the IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol, at the event. Credit: IEA

The Governing Board of the International Energy Agency (IEA) has unanimously agreed for Nigeria to join the IEA Family as an Association country.

“I am thrilled that Nigeria is joining the IEA – it is Africa’s most populous country and a major international energy player. Nigeria becoming part of the world’s energy authority marks a milestone for global energy governance. I am very thankful to President Tinubu and Minister Ekpo for their trust in the IEA,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol.

Emphasising that Nigeria is home to over 240 million people and one of Africa’s largest economies, Faith Birol  acknowledged that Nigeria is a major producer of oil and natural gas and is one of the continent’s most dynamic renewable energy markets.

“As Nigeria works to strengthen energy security, support economic growth and expand energy access, deeper cooperation with the IEA will bring important benefits for both sides. We look forward to building on our already strong partnership and welcoming Nigeria to the IEA, ” he said

In response, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) Ekperikpe Ekpo, said : “I am elated with the decision of the IEA Members to officially welcome Nigeria to the IEA Family as an Association country;  

“It is an honour for Nigeria to join this leading energy agency and I will take this opportunity to encourage the African continent to embrace the IEA, as we all work together to achieve key development goals including universal energy access and industrialisation.”

The IEA Governing Board’s decision builds on a strong history of engagement and collaboration between Nigeria and the IEA since 2014.

In September 2025, the IEA, Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources and the African Energy Commission (AFREC) jointly convened a Regional Roundtable on “Turning Methane Pledges into Action”  in Abuja, bringing together energy stakeholders from across the region to advance efforts to reduce methane emissions from the energy sector.

As an Association country, Nigeria and the IEA will work more closely across a wide range of energy issues, including on the Agency’s engagement in sub-Saharan Africa.

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Nigeria has recorded a significant milestone in its oil sector, surpassing its OPEC production quota by 4% and achieving its highest crude oil output in nearly six years, according to recent industry data.

The country’s average crude oil production reached approximately 1.53 million barrels per day (bpd) in the latest reported period, exceeding the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) allocated quota of 1.5 million bpd. This performance marks a strong recovery driven by improved pipeline security, reduced vandalism, and enhanced operational stability across key facilities in the Niger Delta.

Combined with condensates, total output climbed to around 1.7 million bpd, representing the highest level in months and underscoring Nigeria’s position as Africa’s leading oil producer. Industry reports highlight peak daily production hitting as high as 1.86 million bpd during the period, reflecting robust performance with minimal major disruptions.

This achievement ends a prolonged period of underperformance relative to the quota and signals positive momentum in the sector. Month-on-month, production increased by roughly 2.7–2.8%, building on steady gains over recent months. In crude-only terms, the figures represent one of the strongest showings since early 2025.

Stakeholders, including the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and operators like Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), attribute the gains to better collaboration with host communities, enhanced surveillance of critical infrastructure such as the Trans Niger Pipeline, and government reforms aimed at curbing oil theft.

Experts view the development as a boost for government revenues, foreign exchange earnings, and broader economic stability amid ongoing efforts to attract investment and ramp up capacity toward higher targets. Nigeria has historically produced well above 2 million bpd, and officials remain optimistic about further growth.

The news comes as OPEC+ continues phased adjustments to production levels, with Nigeria demonstrating resilience and compliance-plus performance even as the cartel manages global supply dynamics.

Analysts caution that sustaining this trajectory will require continued investment in infrastructure, security, and upstream activities to fully realize the sector’s potential.