By Danlami Nasir Isah
Stakeholders in the energy sector have raised concerns over the seeming nonchalant attitude of the federal government towards the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES), an annual energy event hosted in Abuja and sponsored by the Nigerian government which brings global energy stakeholders together to facilitate significant deals and partnerships.
The perceived nonchalant attitude, according to sources who spoke to Valuechain on the back of the 2025 edition, is evident in the absence of high-level government figures, such as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who also serves as Minister of Petroleum Resources, and Vice President Kashim Shettima, at the opening of the 2025 edition of the energy summit. Since taking office in 2023, both the President and Vice President have missed the event, with only junior cabinet members stepping in as representatives.
According to sources, the failure of the President, his Vice, and other top government functionaries to show up at the event showed that the federal government was not giving the event the deserved attention.
Since its inception in 2018, the NIES has firmly established itself as a premier event in Africa’s energy sector, serving as a pivotal platform for policy discourse, business development, and technological showcase. The 2025 edition of the Summit with the theme ‘Bridging Continents: Connecting Investors Worldwide with Africa’s Energy Potential’ started on Monday, February 24 and was billed to end on Thursday, 27th February.
The event this year was said to have attracted a diverse array of stakeholders, including government officials, industry leaders, investors, and service providers. Over 6,000 delegates, including more than 50 ministers and government leaders, over 300 leading speakers, and numerous industry professionals from over 60 countries attended the event.
Internationally recognized global energy leaders like the OPEC Secretary General, His Excellency Haitham Al Ghais, Secretary General, African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO), Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim; Secretary General, Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) Engr. Mohamed Hamel, Secretary General, International Energy Forum (IEF) Jassim Al Shirawi and leaders of the international oil companies (IOCs) were among the attendees at the event.
The Opening of the Summit was scheduled to hold at the Presidential Banquet Hall, Aso Villa, with exhibitions and other sessions at the Abuja Continental Hotel. President Bola Tinubu, who also doubles as the Minister of Petroleum Resources was expected to deliver the keynote address and declare the event open.
However, participants at the summit said they were thrown into a state of confusion with the announcement of a sudden venue and other itineraries.
Parts of a mail from the organizers to participants read, “Due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, we regret to inform you the Opening Ceremony of the Nigerian International Energy Summit N.I.E.S 2025 will No Longer Be Held at the Banquet Hall of the State House. The ceremony will now take place at Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton, on Tuesday, 25th February 2025.”
“We sincerely appreciate your understanding and flexibility in this matter. Our team is committed to ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience for all attendees, and we are confident that the new venue will still provide an excellent setting for our gathering.”
Expressing the frustration of some attendees over the organization of the event, a regular participant at the summit who craved anonymity said the venue change happened less than 24 hours before the event, to the disappointment of the participants.
“People were still waiting when the hall was prepared. The opening ceremony was supposed to take place at the Villa with eminent personalities like the OPEC Secretary General, and other country representatives.
President Tinubu was represented at the opening ceremony held at Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Chief Wale Edun, who also was represented by the Minister of State for Finance Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite.
The source lamented that the quality of representation from the Nigerian Government who are the organizers of the event was a marked difference from previous administration when the least representation from the federal government was the Vice President.
“This is an event organized by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum which the minister is the president. So, we are expecting to even see the President because he’s the Minister of Petroleum Resources. The Federal government is treating this event with kid gloves. It’s not really palatable because of the calibre of people coming from various parts of the world. If they don’t come next year, people like the OPEC Secretary General should not be blamed.
“You go to South Africa. You go to other countries. You see how their presidents, who are not even the ministers of petroleum, are gracing similar events, but you come to our own you see that our politicians are only concerned about the money they will collect from the sale of crude oil; they are not interested in the platform that has to do with encouraging investments in the sector.”
“Last year, it was the Minister of Information that represented the President. This year it’s the Minister of State for Finance. If you look at the faces of our Nigerian contingents at the event you could see the disappointment, people were not really happy. This is supposed to be treated as one of the biggest events in Nigeria. It is embarrassing to see the way things are”, the source lamented.
Valuechain reports that the focus for this year’s summit is important considering Africa’s role in global energy security. With ongoing geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions affecting global energy markets, Africa is increasingly being recognized as a reliable alternative energy source. The summit’s theme underscores Nigeria’s and Africa’s potential to contribute to global energy security while ensuring sustainable economic benefits for the continent.
The event is a landmark event, facilitating significant deals and partnerships that will shape the future of Nigeria’s energy sector.