By Ayomide Otitoju
The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has said Africa is central to global energy security, urging stronger partnerships to harness the continent’s vast energy and mineral resources.
Tegbe made the remarks on Tuesday in a keynote address at the opening plenary of the 50th edition of the Middle East Energy 2026 Leadership Summit in Dubai, where he spoke on “Energy Security and the Effect of Geopolitics.”
He said energy security could no longer be defined by hydrocarbon reserves alone but should encompass resilient supply chains, grid infrastructure, capital and institutions capable of sustaining energy supplies during periods of stress.
Tegbe positioned Nigeria as an important player in the global energy security debate, citing its more than 200 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves and decades of reliable liquefied natural gas supplies to Europe and Asia.
He also described the Electricity Act 2023 as Nigeria’s most significant power-sector reform in a generation, saying it ended the federal government’s longstanding monopoly and paved the way for 37 emerging electricity markets across the country.
“Capital does not flee risk; it flees uncertainty,” Tegbe said, stressing the importance of regulatory certainty, contract sanctity and bankable offtake arrangements in attracting investment.
The minister outlined four key priorities for energy security: diversification of energy sources and partnerships, stronger investment in electricity grids, improved affordability and an orderly and just global energy transition that recognises individual countries’ circumstances.
He noted that about 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity, arguing that the continent’s mineral resources, solar potential, youthful population and growing energy demand would increasingly influence global energy security.
Tegbe called for partnerships that extend beyond raw resource extraction to include local processing, manufacturing, skills development and long-term financing.
“Nigeria has chosen to build. Africa has chosen to build. And we invite you … to build with us,” he told delegates.
The minister is expected to continue his engagements in Dubai during the week, including a ministerial fireside session on financing Africa’s power future under the summit’s Africa Spotlight programme.
