The Federal Government has stated that major energy reforms introduced in Nigeria since June 2023 are focused on improving energy security, attracting investment and deepening collaboration with key partners, like the United States government.
A statement made available to newsmen, yesterday, quoted the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen, as stating this in the remarks she made on September 12 at a luncheon for the inaugural US-Nigeria Strategic Energy Dialogue, hosted by the US State Department in Washington DC.
The dialogue was established in June 2023 to create a platform for the US, Nigerian government and the private sector to deepen bilateral cooperation to advance the implementation of shared energy and climate action ambitions.
According to the statement, Nigeria seeks to create a robust regulatory framework and attract new investments for the production of gas for power, transportation and clean cooking.
“We want existing and potential partners to better understand our areas of priority so that our collaboration can be better targeted, and with tangible outcomes.”
Verheijen highlighted key reforms by the government to include initiatives to improve cash flows in electricity distribution through smart metering and the payment of outstanding debts owed to investors and to reduce carbon emissions from gas production.
Verheijen added that the reforms had started yielding results, with the recent announcement of a Final Investment Decision (FID) on a new $550 million upstream gas project that will deliver 350 million standard cubic feet of gas per day when operational.
AT another event, the U.S., recognising Nigeria’s future in the tech and Artificial Intelligence spaces, pledged to bring in emerging technologies to support the country.
The U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, pledged during a courtesy visit to Lagos, which attracted dignitaries from different sectors.
“I don’t need to tell you that Nigeria, the largest economy on the continent, the largest democracy and anchor state for the future of this continent, is an important partner, and the United States wants Nigeria to have a bigger role and a bigger voice in world affairs because we share the same values, we see the world in many of the same ways .
“So, I’m very happy to be here at the instruction of the Secretary of State and President Biden to help encourage Nigeria to step up and speak loudly and frankly to us,” Mills stated.
He added: “The connections between the Nigerian and the American people are deep and they’re strong. I’m very proud that every year, over 17,000 Nigerian students choose to study in U.S. colleges and universities. And in any given year, over 400 Nigerians participate in the U.S. government exchange and fellowship programmes.
“As ambassador, I can tell all of you, I am committed to strengthening our collaboration in old areas and these new areas.”
