Nigeria, IEA seal methane, gas, clean cooking pact

Mkpoikana Udoma

Port Harcourt — Nigeria has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the International Energy Agency, IEA, to deepen cooperation on methane emissions reduction, gas development, clean cooking access and technical support, in a move aimed at strengthening the country’s petroleum sector competitiveness.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) Mr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, who announced the agreement, described it as a milestone in Nigeria’s energy reform drive.

“I was pleased to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the International Energy Agency in Paris, France,” Ekpo said. “This agreement strengthens our cooperation on methane emissions reduction, gas development, clean cooking access and technical support.”

According to the minister, the MoU will enhance methane reduction strategies, capacity building, data sharing and infrastructure expansion across Nigeria’s gas value chain.

“This agreement marks an important milestone in our commitment to advancing Nigeria’s petroleum sector in an efficient, sustainable and globally competitive manner,” he stated.

He added that the partnership would promote “stronger governance across the gas value chain” while supporting technical expertise transfer to Nigerian institutions.

The pact aligns Nigeria more closely with global methane reduction efforts, while reinforcing gas as a transition fuel in the country’s energy mix.

Ekpo also underscored the Federal Government’s clean cooking ambitions under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“Clean cooking remains a major priority under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said. “Our target is to transition five million homes to LPG by 2030.”

The minister expressed appreciation for the IEA’s leadership and partnership, noting that collaboration with global institutions is essential to unlocking Nigeria’s gas potential while meeting environmental obligations.

The agreement is expected to support policy reforms, emissions data transparency and investments that could improve investor confidence in Nigeria’s gas and petroleum sector.