From Seyi Tayese, Yenagoa
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, Ph.D., has championed Nigeria’s energy potential and called for sustained investment in the global energy sector while delivering his scene-setting remarks at the 17th International Energy Forum Ministerial Meeting, held on October 11, 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Sen. Lokpobiri, who co-hosted the ministerial meeting alongside Italy’s Minister of the Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, under the theme “Energy Security and Shared Goals in a New Era,” joined other energy ministers, industry leaders and representatives of international organizations to deliberate on critical issues relating to global energy security, market stability and investment.
Addressing participants, the Nigerian minister emphasized that energy security depends on strategic planning, resilient infrastructure, and sustained investment in production capacity. He stressed that investment decisions made today would determine the reliability and affordability of future energy supplies.
“Energy security is built before a crisis, not during one,” Sen. Lokpobiri stated, underscoring the need for governments and industry stakeholders to create an enabling environment for long-term investment.
Highlighting Nigeria’s energy potential, he advocated a balanced approach that enables resource-rich developing countries to harness their hydrocarbon resources responsibly while expanding access to cleaner energy sources. He maintained that Africa should not have to choose between economic development and environmental responsibility.
The minister further stressed the importance of investor confidence, regulatory stability, and predictable policies in attracting capital to the energy sector. “I often say in Nigeria that capital is blind; it goes where it is welcomed,” he remarked, urging governments to establish transparent, reliable frameworks that encourage investment and protect agreements.
Sen. Lokpobiri also called for greater diversity in energy sources, supply routes, and infrastructure, noting that oil and gas would remain important alongside renewables, hydro, and nuclear energy.
He urged stakeholders to translate dialogue into concrete action, emphasizing that sustained investment, international cooperation, and affordable energy access are essential to building a resilient global energy system and unlocking Nigeria’s vast energy opportunities.
