The Presidency announced that Nigeria has attracted over $8 billion (about ₦12.8 trillion) in investments in deepwater and gas projects within a year.
This was revealed by Olu Verheijen, Special Adviser on Energy to President Bola Tinubu, during the 2025 Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
A statement from the event as made available to Journalists in Abuja by Mr Senan Murray,the team lead,Communication,In the office of the special Adviser.
According to Murray, the Special Adviser told policymakers, investors, and industry leaders across the continent, that the feat was achieved through decisive actions taken by President Tinubu.
She said the actions focused on improved fiscal terms, streamlined contracting timelines, greater clarity to local content rules, and power sector reforms enabling gas-to-power commercial viability.
Verheijen, therefore, charged industry leaders across the continent, to take cue from Nigeria, by ensuring that Africa move beyond appeals for support, but become an investment destination by design; anchored in policy clarity, commercial logic, and strategic intent.
“Africa must partner smartly, not from dependency, but from aligned strategic interest.
“Nigeria has been able to prove that this approach works. We moved from gridlock to greenlight, and investors responded.
“ Nigeria’s attainment of an increase in indigenous equity in gas, from 69 per cent to 83 per cent, is not just a statistic but a seismic shift in ownership and control of Africa’s energy future.
“Our sweet spot is onshore, shelf, and domestic gas. That’s where African players must dominate, because we understand the terrain, the risk, and the reward,’’ she said.
Verheijen celebrated the feats of African private sector champions, like Seplat, Oando and Renaissance, who, according to her, are no longer just “local players.”
The Special Adviser specifically hailed Renaissance Africa Energy Consortium’s acquisition of Shell’s onshore JV, which she said is “a symbolic transition from colonial-era concessions to indigenous control.’’
She said the 650,000 barrels per day Dangote Refinery, the largest single-train refinery in the world, was built by African capital, African hands, and African ambition.
According to her, the project is not just infrastructure, but proof that African industrial scale is not aspirational, but operational.
“When we get that right, capital won’t hesitate, it will pursue us. The future will not be given to Africa. It must be built deliberately, unapologetically, and on our terms,’’ she said.
