Nigeria's Power Reforms as a Model for Global Energy Security

Joseph Tegbe, Nigeria's Minister of Power, addressed the 50th Middle East Energy 2026 Leadership Summit in Dubai, asserting that Nigeria's power sector reforms could model for developing economies aiming to strengthen energy security amid geopolitical tensions. He emphasized that energy security now encompasses more than just oil and gas reserves, highlighting the need for resilient energy systems, including mineral supply chains and electricity grids.

Tegbe noted Nigeria's significant gas reserves of over 200 trillion cubic feet and its history of supplying liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe and Asia. He pointed to the Electricity Act 2023 as a pivotal change in Nigeria's electricity market, which ended the federal monopoly and facilitated the emergence of 37 electricity markets.

The reform agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu aims to create regulatory certainty to attract long-term investments. Tegbe urged international investors to support local processing and skills development in Africa, emphasizing the continent's potential in the global energy market.