President Bola Tinubu has welcomed Nigeria’s return to the World Energy Council (WEC), saying the move will give the country a stronger voice in global discussions on energy security, affordability and sustainability.
Tinubu, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described Nigeria’s admission as a recognition of the reforms taking place in the country’s energy sector.
Nigeria has joined the WEC’s network of more than 100 countries and is expected to use the platform to attract investment, promote innovation and strengthen international cooperation in the energy industry.
The President also congratulated the inaugural leadership of WEC Nigeria, including its Chairman, Abdulrazaq Isa, and Chief Executive Officer, Bala Wunti, as well as other members of the board.
Tinubu described Isa as an accomplished industrialist whose investments in refining and energy have created opportunities for Nigerian businesses.
He also praised Wunti for his extensive experience in the energy industry, citing his contributions to reforms, revenue generation and efforts to improve investor confidence.
The President said the WEC Nigeria board, which includes industry professionals, regulators, financial experts, academics and young energy leaders, would provide a credible platform for national energy dialogue.
Tinubu said Nigeria’s participation in the council should go beyond membership, stressing that the country must use the opportunity to ensure that Africa’s interests are represented in global energy decisions.
“Nigeria has joined the World Energy Council to lead, not just participate, to ensure Africa’s voice shapes global energy decisions,” the President said.
He assured WEC Nigeria of the Federal Government’s support, saying the organisation could help drive policy dialogue, investment and innovation in the sector.
Wunti’s appointment as the organisation’s pioneer chief executive is expected to place significant attention on energy security. During his previous roles at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, he was involved in efforts to combat crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism, which have affected Nigeria’s oil production and investment.
He also played a role in initiatives aimed at improving petroleum product monitoring and distribution, including the technology-driven “Operation White” programme.
Wunti has held several senior positions in Nigeria’s energy industry, covering upstream investment, strategy, sustainability and production-sharing contracts. His experience includes work on reducing production costs and negotiations involving the country’s deep offshore oil agreements.
In his new role, Wunti is expected to promote discussions around reliable energy infrastructure, stable supply chains and policies capable of attracting long-term investment.
He has maintained that Nigeria’s energy future must be built around security, affordability, sustainability and national development.
WEC Nigeria is also expected to support efforts to improve electricity access by encouraging reliable gas supplies to power plants and addressing threats to pipelines and other critical energy infrastructure.
Nigeria’s return to the World Energy Council comes as the country seeks increased investment, higher domestic energy production and stronger infrastructure to support economic growth.
