Nigeria and Indonesia are moving to strengthen cooperation in the petroleum and wider energy sectors, with the Federal Government seeking to attract more Indonesian investment into Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, said Nigeria was prepared to deepen its strategic relationship with Indonesia through increased investment, technical collaboration and capacity development.
Lokpobiri stated this during a meeting with a delegation from the Indonesian Government led by Indonesia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Bambang Suharto.
According to a statement issued by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Nneamaka Okafor, Lokpobiri said the Federal Government remained committed to developing partnerships capable of bringing investment and expertise into the petroleum sector.
He described Nigeria’s petroleum industry as a competitive destination for international investors, citing opportunities for value creation and sustainable long-term returns despite changes in the global energy landscape.
The minister said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration was focused on maximising the country’s natural resources for the benefit of Nigerians while creating an investment-friendly environment capable of attracting long-term capital.
He identified policy clarity, regulatory predictability and stronger investor confidence as essential to attracting the capital, technology and partnerships needed to fully develop the sector.
“Our objective is to harness Nigeria’s natural resources in the best interest of Nigerians and investors. We are positioning the petroleum sector to attract the capital, technology, and partnerships required to unlock its full potential,” Lokpobiri said.
Lokpobiri welcomed Indonesia’s interest in Nigeria’s petroleum industry, describing the proposed areas of collaboration as mutually beneficial and capable of contributing to economic growth and stability in both countries.
He also encouraged the Indonesian government and investors to participate in Nigeria’s upcoming bid rounds and explore investment opportunities across the country’s oil and gas industry.
The invitation comes as Nigeria intensifies efforts to attract new investment into the upstream sector, boost crude oil and gas production, develop additional petroleum assets and strengthen its appeal to international energy investors.
Responding to the minister, Ambassador Suharto said Indonesia considered Nigeria an important strategic partner and was interested in expanding bilateral cooperation beyond conventional diplomatic relations.
“Indonesia sees Nigeria as an important strategic partner, and we are interested in expanding our cooperation through investment, technical collaboration, training, and capacity development,” the ambassador said.
He said the proposed areas of cooperation could provide opportunities for both countries to deepen their relationship while promoting knowledge transfer and professional development within the energy sector.
Lokpobiri also drew attention to proposed exchange programmes being developed by the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK), describing them as an avenue for strengthening institutional ties, promoting knowledge sharing and developing technical expertise.
The minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s willingness to build on existing partnerships and pursue new collaborations that could attract investment, strengthen the petroleum industry and generate sustainable economic benefits for both countries.
The renewed engagement forms part of Nigeria’s wider efforts to reposition its oil and gas sector as a more attractive destination for international capital, technology and strategic partnerships.
